Springbok Watch: Players in the Spotlight v Italy in Gqeberha

Salmaan Moerat

With Siya Kolisi being managed as he recovers from a niggle and Jesse Kriel, who captained the Boks in the season-opening 54-7 win over the Barbarians and last weekend’s 42-24 triumph over the Italians being rested, Moerat comes into the starting line-up and takes over the captaincy.

The second-rower has led South Africa in three of his 10 Test outings – against Portugal, Australia, and Argentina last season – and is bullish ahead of his first appearance for the Boks this season.

He had a stellar United Rugby Championship campaign as captain of the Stormers and with the Boks having all their veteran locks back and a youngster like Cobus Wiese set to make his debut off the bench, Moerat will look to prove his worth.

Manie Libbok

With general Handre Pollard pulling the strings last weekend, the Boks mostly stuck to a power game. Expect the back-to-back world champions to be far more unpredictable and expansive with Libbok in the driver’s seat.

The Japan-bound maverick is one of the most exciting flyhalves in the game today and was outstanding in his cameo against the BaaBaas last time out, throwing daggers and slotting all his kicks at goal as he upstaged the man he replaced, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

He can be inconsistent, so Bok fans will be hoping that same version of Libbok shows up on Saturday.

Canan Moodie

We’ve seen it with countless multi-talented prodigies over the years. The extended tool kits that make them so versatile make it tricky to figure out where they’re best suited. Moodie falls into that category, with the jury still out on whether he’s a wing or a centre.

He’s started on the right wing in eight of his 12 Tests, including the last two against the All Blacks and Scotland last year. The last time he started at No. 13, where he’ll run out this weekend, was against Tonga at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, where he scored a try to help the Boks claim a 49-18 win.

Still only 22, he has a ton of rugby ahead of him and it’s going to be interesting to see where he settles. Saturday’s showdown won’t provide a definitive answer on his long-term future, but it’ll play a part in determining when and where his next few appearances will be.

Edwill van der Merwe

A year is a long time in the career of a professional athlete, especially for one who has been left wanting more after getting only a taste of the big time. Such has been Van der Merwe’s fate.

The predatory winger produced a Man of the Match performance in his Bok debut in the 2024 season opener against Wales at Twickenham but picked up an injury in the game that kept him out of the national side since then.

Salivating for more Test rugby, he thrived in his final season at the Lions and the time has finally come for him to add to that one Bok cap, which probably feels like a lifetime ago.

Willie le Roux

Twelve years after making his Bok debut in the 44-10 win over Italy in Durban, Le Roux will don the No. 15 jersey once again and make his 100th Test appearance for South Africa against the same side.

Having started his career with Boland, Le Roux’s rise saw him move to the Cheetahs, Griquas, Canan Eagles, Sharks, Wasps, Toyota Verblitz and to his current club the Bulls, whom he helped reach successive United Rugby Championship grand finals in the last two seasons.

The 35-year-old has scored 15 tries in the Green and Gold and created numerous more. A playmaker extraordinaire, his vision and elite attacking skillset have earned him the nickname “The Assist King” while his organisational skills and educated left book make him the total package.

He’s now set to become only the eighth player in history to play 100 Tests for South Africa, following in the footsteps of Eben Etzebeth, Victor Matfield, Bryan Habana, Tendai Mtawarira, John Smit, Jean de Villiers, and Percy Montgomery.

“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,” commented Bok coach Rassie Erasmus.

“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,” he added.