BOKS RUN OUT OF BACKS

WITH six backline players and as many forwards unavailable for their Test against Wales in Cardiff at 5.10pm on Saturday, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said his hand was forced a bit in terms of team selection.

Running out of backline players after the likes of Grant Williams, Handre Pollard, Manie Libbok, Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe and Edwill van der Merwe returned to their clubs, Erasmus picked a seven-one split on the bench for the Millennium Stadium clash.

Explaining the decision, the coach wysed: “The composition of the bench was a combination of the availability of players we had for this match, but also given how well our pack has performed this season, and we believe it will be a key area of the match on Saturday.”

Forwards Malcolm Marx, Thomas du Toit, Boan Venter, Lood de Jager, RG Snyman and Pieter-Steph du Toit have also returned to their clubs.

Still, the Boks picked a very strong outfit for what will be the only backline player on the bench Cobus Reinach's 50th Test match.

Of his squad, Erasmus added: “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.

“We’ve been rotating our players throughout the year, and this group has been together for close to five weeks, so many of these combinations are fully settled... ”

Of Reinach playing in his 50th Test, Erasmus added: “Cobus is a true team man and he has been a stand-out player for us this season and over the years, so we are delighted to see him earn this achievement.

“He has patiently waited for his chances and grabbed every opportunity with both hands, so to see him achieve this at 35 years old makes it an even more remarkable feat.”

Boks v Wales: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Damian de Allende, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Zachary Porthen, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Ben-Jason Dixon, 22 Kwagga Smith, 23 Cobus Reinach