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Salmaan Moerat takes over the captaincy in a much-changed South African side for the second Test against the Azzurri, as Rassie Erasmus and his Boks look to bounce back strongly after a disappointing performance by their own high standards at Loftus Versfeld last weekend.
After two performances off the bench to start the season, Le Roux has been handed the No. 15 jersey for his 100th Test, and Erasmus couldn't be prouder of the veteran fullback.
"Willie has been a stalwart for us in the last few years after making his debut against Italy in Durban in 2013, and he's a fantastic playmaker, so we are thrilled to see him achieve this incredible feat," he said.
"Only seven players in Springbok history have played 100 Tests before him, and to reach this milestone is testament to the player and team man that Willie is.
"Having come a long way with him during his career, I have no doubt that he'll put the team before his own achievements this weekend, and as a team we would certainly like to make it a special and memorable occasion for him."
Erasmus has also picked three potential debutants for Saturday's clash, though all three - prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, utility forward Cobus Wiese and utility back Ethan Hooker - will start on the bench.
Meanwhile, some big names return to the Bok starting line-up, including scrumhalf Grant Williams, midfielder Canan Moodie, wingers Makazole Mapimpi and Edwill van der Merwe, and two-time World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit.
With Siya Kolisi being managed as he recovers from a niggle, Moerat will lead a team that features just seven players from the side that defeated Italy 42-24 in Pretoria last week.
Erasmus named five forwards and three backs on the bench, with Jan-Hendrik Wessels joining fellow front-rowers Ox Nche and Ntlabakanye, along with the versatile Wiese and Evan Roos, while Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Hooker will provide backline cover.
Erasmus was excited to see this team in action: "We said from the outset that we would rotate the team as we have a large and very talented squad, and all but three of the players have played Test rugby before.
"Adding to that, 13 players in this squad have won a World Cup before, 11 of whom are in the starting lineup and two on the bench, and that shows the depth we have as we continue to build our squad for the next few seasons and ultimately the 2027 Rugby World Cup."
As for what he expected from Saturday's match: "We said from the get-go that they are a tough team and that they will test us, and we know that their performance last week will psyche them up going into this match.
"They will come hard at us and deliver another passionate performance, but we also have high standards as a team, and we know that we need to shift into a different gear this weekend."
Springboks - 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Ethan Hooker.
Issued on SABC Sport | https://www.sabcsport.com/rugby/news/willie-le-roux-to-earn-100th-cap-as-moerat-leads-new-look-boks-against-italy
