Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named his strongest available team to face Italy in Turin on Saturday, Daily Maverick reports. The match opens South Africa's European tour in the Nations Championship. According to Daily Maverick, the selection defies all pre-tournament predictions.
The Springbok matchday 23 includes 13 World Cup winners and boasts 1,043 Test caps. Daily Maverick says the first-choice side must secure a bonus-point win and as many points as possible. The Boks lead New Zealand at the top of the southern conference, but only on points difference. If they hold that position over the next three rounds, they will qualify for the final on November 29.
Both teams are short of players. Italy are missing 17, including regular captain Michele Lamaro and centres Tommaso Menoncello and Juan Ignacio Brex. South Africa's injury list includes RG Snyman, Kwagga Smith, Eben Etzebeth, André Esterhuizen, Handré Pollard and Cheslin Kolbe.
Rivals face similar problems. Daily Maverick reports that as many as 15 France players look set to miss next week's game against the Boks. They include Thibaud Flament, Emmanuel Meafou, Matthieu Jalibert and Thomas Ramos. Ireland, who meet South Africa on November 21, will be without Caelan Doris, Jack Conan and Jack Crowley. The All Blacks travelled north without 10 players from the Greatest Rivalry series, among them captain Ardie Savea and flyhalf Ruben Love.
Erasmus praised Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada this week. Since taking charge in 2024, Quesada has led Italy to wins over Australia, Scotland and England. South Africa's last Test, against Australia in September, ended in a 42-38 defeat.
Six uncapped players are touring with the Boks and could get game time in the coming weeks. Daily Maverick says Erasmus may use the France and Ireland games to test youngsters and fringe players before next year's World Cup. Before the tour, South Africa beat New Zealand 3-1 in the Greatest Rivalry series, finishing with a 43-28 win in Baltimore.