Reinach Brings Up 50 as Erasmus Names Battle-Ready Bok Squad for Wales

Springbok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach will reach a major career milestone on Saturday as he earns his 50th Test cap in South Africa’s final clash of the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour against Wales at the Principality Stadium. Kick-off is at 17:10 (SA time), live on SuperSport.

Despite the match falling outside the international window—ruling out several frontline stars—head coach Rassie Erasmus has named a settled and balanced squad, featuring nine changes from the team that beat Ireland 24–13 in Dublin last week.

A host of big names, including Malcolm Marx, Handré Pollard, Manie Libbok, RG Snyman, Cheslin Kolbe, and Jesse Kriel, were unavailable due to club commitments. But Erasmus has turned to a core group of trusted performers and injected several “Bomb Squad” specialists into the starting XV.

Seven players retain their spots from Dublin: Ruan Nortje, captain Siya Kolisi, Jasper Wiese, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Canan Moodie, Damian de Allende, and Damian Willemse.

Up front, Erasmus has put faith in a powerful, refreshed starting pack. Johan Grobbelaar starts at hooker alongside props Wilco Louw and Gerhard Steenekamp, who earns his first Test start. Jean Kleyn joins Nortje in the second row, while Kolisi, Franco Mostert, and Wiese make up a mobile and hard-working loose trio.

At halfback, Morne van den Berg partners Feinberg-Mngomezulu, with Andre Esterhuizen bringing physicality to the midfield. Moodie and Ethan Hooker line up on the wings, while Willemse continues at fullback.

In classic Erasmus style, the Boks will field a 7–1 bench split, with Reinach the only backline replacement and a stacked group of heavy-hitters covering the forwards.

Erasmus said the squad was built around availability and continuity:
“We knew from the outset that we would lose players for this match due to their club commitments, and we are pleased with the quality of the team we’ve selected.”

He credited squad rotation throughout the year:
“We’ve been rotating our players throughout the year… We are excited that they will receive another chance to play.”

Erasmus also thanked the clubs that made players available:
“I’d like to thank the provincial unions and clubs who released these players… so we could field a strong side capable of finishing off our November tour on a high note.”

On Reinach's milestone, Erasmus was full of admiration:
“Cobus is a true team man… to see him achieve this at 35 years old makes it an even more remarkable feat.”

The coach said the 7–1 split was driven by both necessity and strategy:
“The composition of the bench was a combination of the availability of players… and we believe it will be a key area of the match on Saturday.”

And he expects a fierce response from Wales:
“We are expecting them to come out firing… They’ll give everything to finish their season on a high note and try to improve their world ranking.”

Springbok Team to Face Wales (Cardiff)

Starting XV
15. Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 48 caps, 71 pts
14. Ethan Hooker (Sharks) – 7 caps, 5 pts
13. Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 96 caps, 55 pts
12. Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks) – 28 caps, 20 pts
11. Canan Moodie (Bulls) – 21 caps, 40 pts
10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers) – 18 caps, 144 pts
9. Morne van den Berg (Lions) – 5 caps, 20 pts
8. Jasper Wiese (D-Rocks) – 42 caps, 10 pts
7. Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 83 caps, 20 pts
6. Siya Kolisi (c) (Sharks) – 102 caps, 70 pts
5. Ruan Nortje (Bulls) – 17 caps
4. Jean Kleyn (Munster) – 8 caps
3. Wilco Louw (Bulls) – 28 caps, 5 pts
2. Johan Grobbelaar (Bulls) – 7 caps

Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls) – 15 caps, 5 pts

Replacements
16. Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks) – 81 caps, 70 pts
17. Zachary Porthen (Stormers) – 2 caps
18. Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions) – 2 caps
19. Eben Etzebeth (Sharks) – 140 caps, 35 pts
20. Marco van Staden (Bulls) – 32 caps, 20 pts
21. Ben-Jason Dixon (Stormers) – 6 caps, 5 pts
22. Kwagga Smith (Blue Revs) – 62 caps, 55 pts
23. Cobus Reinach (Stormers) – 49 caps, 95 pts

Stats & Facts

• The Springboks have played Wales 43 times, winning 35.
• SA have lost just five of 24 away tests to Wales since 1994.
• A win would secure a second consecutive unbeaten end-of-year tour.
• Reinach becomes the second Bok to hit 50 caps on this tour (after RG Snyman).
• He needs just five more test points to reach the 100-point mark.
• Eben Etzebeth could extend his record to 141 caps if he comes off the bench.
• Damian de Allende is just two Tests away from joining the 100-cap club.
• Damian Willemse is set for his 49th Test, nearing the 50-cap milestone.
• The starting XV boasts 525 Test caps—223 in the backline and 302 among the forwards.