Only one Boks change for French Rugby Test

Jun 15, 2017 - 12:37 PM Lionel Mapoe has replaced Jesse Kriel at outside centre as the only change to South Africa's match-day 23 for Saturday's second Test against France at King's Park.

Kriel was concussed in the Springboks' 37-14 opening Test win last weekend at Loftus Versfeld. Mapoe missed the game with a hamstring strain.

The win was much needed after a disastrous 2016 when they lost eight of 12 Tests, including historic defeats to Ireland, Italy and Argentina.

Coach Allister Coetzee has decided against bringing in experienced World Cup winner Frans Steyn from the start for the second Test, which would have necessitated a move by Jan Serfontein from No.12 to the 13 jersey.

"Jan had a very good match at inside centre in Pretoria and we wanted a specialist at No.13 as replacement for Jesse, so Mapoe is a logical choice. It also means we're preventing making two changes to the team," Coetzee said in a statement on Thursday from SA Rugby.

"We kept changes to a minimum and one change to the squad means we can continue to work on our continuity, which is so important.

"This is a new group, so playing together again means that the important combinations are gaining more experience. It is also nice to reward good performances and all of them deserve another opportunity."

Tendai Mtawarira will extend his record as the most-capped Boks prop by taking his tally of appearances to 88. He is the third most-experienced forward for the country with only Victor Matfield and John Smit ahead of him.

The Boks can clinch the series with victory in Durban, ahead of the third and final Test on June 24 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

SOUTH AFRICA:

Andries Coetzee, Raymond Rhule, Lionel Mapoe, Jan Serfontein, Courtnall Skosan, Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje, Warren Whiteley (capt), Oupa Mohoje, Siya Kolisi, Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Tendai Mtawarira.

Res: Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Coenie Oosthuizen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Francois Hougaard, Frans Steyn, Dillyn Leyds.

Source: AAP