Venter Selected for Bok Bench, Replacing Wessels

The Springboks have made a last-minute change, adding prop Boan Venter as a backup option on the bench for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash against Australia.

Head Coach Rassie Erasmus updated his squad on Friday after Jan-Hendrik Wessels was forced to withdraw from the match against the Wallabies at Ellis Park Stadium on Saturday.

Venter, who made his test rugby debut against Georgia in July, will join Bongi Mbonambi and Asenathi Ntlabakanye as the reserve front row, following Wessels’ minor injury incurred during training on Wednesday, which resulted in his exclusion from the lineup.

This match marks Venter’s first appearance in the Rugby Championship and his inaugural encounter against Australia.

Kickoff is scheduled for 17:10, and fans can tune in to watch the game live on SuperSport.

Updated Springbok team to face Australia in Johannesburg:

15 Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 12 caps, 35 points (7t)
14 Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 3 caps, 25 pts (5t)
13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 80 caps, 95 points (19t)
12 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 20 caps, 0 pts
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 26 caps, 100 points (20t)
10 Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners) – 20 caps, 108 pts (1t, 35c, 11p)
9 Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 19 caps, 25 pts (5t)

8 Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 93 caps, 60 points (12t)
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 88 caps, 60 pts (12t)
6 Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 27 caps, 15 pts (3t)
5 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 67 caps, 25 points (5t)
4 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 133 caps, 35 points (7t)
3 Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 18 caps, 0 pts
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 78 caps, 115 pts (23t)
1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 41 caps, 0 pts

Replacements:

16 Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 79 caps, 70 points (14t)
17 Boan Venter (Edinburgh) – 1 cap, 5 pts (1t)
18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions) – 1 cap, 0 pts
19 Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 79 caps, 20 points (4t)
20 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 53 caps, 45 points (9t)
21 Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers) – 40 caps, 70 pts (14t)
22 Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 14 caps, 35 pts (7t)
23 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 41 caps, 61 points (5t, 9c, 4p, 2 dg)