Fassi Steps In as Springboks Face Wallabies After Le Roux Injury Blow
Aphelele Fassi will wear the No.15 jersey for the Springboks in their Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash with Australia at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, after veteran fullback Willie le Roux was forced to withdraw due to injury.
Le Roux, who celebrated his 100th cap earlier this season, picked up a niggle in training during the week and was unable to recover in time. Head coach Rassie Erasmus wasted no time slotting Fassi straight into the starting XV, handing the Sharks star his second successive start against the Wallabies after featuring in Johannesburg last weekend.
The Boks will be eager to bounce back following their 38-22 defeat in that opening Test, and Fassi’s attacking flair offers them an exciting option at the back.
Erasmus confirmed the adjustment on Friday, noting that Fassi’s inclusion was a seamless change given his strong performance in the previous outing.
Updated Springbok Team to Face Australia (Cape Town)
Starting XV
15. Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 13 caps, 35 pts (7t)
14. Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 15 caps, 35 pts (7t)
13. Jesse Kriel (captain, Canon Eagles) – 81 caps, 95 pts (19t)
12. Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 89 caps, 55 pts (11t)
11. Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath) – 41 caps, 111 pts (18t, 3c, 5p)
10. Handré Pollard (Vodacom Bulls) – 82 caps, 797 pts (7t, 116c, 168p, 5dg)
9. Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 20 caps, 25 pts (5t)
8. Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles) – 14 caps, 10 pts (2t)
7. Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 80 caps, 20 pts (4t)
6. Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 28 caps, 15 pts (3t)
5. Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 8 caps
4. RG Snyman (Leinster) – 42 caps, 10 pts (2t)
3. Thomas du Toit (Bath) – 25 caps, 5 pts (1t)
2. Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 79 caps, 115 pts (23t)
Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 42 caps
Replacements
16. Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets) – 1 cap, 10 pts (2t)
17. Boan Venter (Edinburgh) – 2 caps, 5 pts (1t)
18. Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 19 caps
19. Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 134 caps, 35 pts (7t)
20. Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 68 caps, 25 pts (5t)
21. Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 54 caps, 45 pts (9t)
22. Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers) – 41 caps, 70 pts (14t)
23. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 10 caps, 54 pts (15c, 8p)