Zimbabwean – born , Springbok experienced prop Tendai “Beast “Mtawarira and Coenie Oosthwizen also an experienced prop, as well as inside center Damian de Alleide all return to the Springbok starting team to face Ireland this Saturday evening(kick off at 7:30) at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
The match is the first of four Castle Lager Outgoing Tour Tests that also includes internationals against France, Italy and Wales.
Mtawarira returns to the front row after missing the Cape Town game because of personal reasons. He will bring his experience back into the mix and there is an understanding that when a first-choice Bok has to withdraw from a game he retains his place when he returns.
Beast is the most experienced Springbok player with 95 test caps.Kitshoff who made his starting debut against the All blacks last month in Cape Town, will move back to the bench, where he has been very impressive.There is only one change to the back line, with De Allade earning a first start of the season for Jan Serfentein who has played in all previous nine Bok matches of this year.
Tendai Mtawarira will extend his record as the most capped prop to 96 .He is the third most experienced Springbok forward behind Victor Matfield and John Smit.Another milestone on Mtawarira is that he will equal the record for most test caps (seven) against Ireland.The current holder is C-J van der Linde.
Saturday’s match will be Springboks’ 14th test against Ireland at Aviva Stadium Dublin.
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