South Africa's Springboks will play their final Test of the incoming tour series against Georgia at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, their last chance to blood new players ahead of the Rugby Championship.
After a convincing 54-7 win in an exhibition against the Barbarians and then some jitters in the first Test against Italy - a 42-24 win - the Springboks were far more clinical in a 45-0 second Test win over the Azzurri.
Rassie Erasmus has rung the changes once again, opting to try out new combinations under the leadership of returning captain Siya Kolisi. The coach's experimentation worked well in the second win over Italy, as the Springboks succeeded at initiating lineout-style mauls in open play to assert their forward dominance.
Varsity Cup Player of the Year Ntokozo Makhaza's late try gave the Cheetahs a 24-20 win over Georgia in an exhibition game, so a much stronger performance will be needed against the reigning world champions.
Key details:
Date: Saturday, July 19 at 5:10 PM CAT (3:10 PM GMT, 11:10 AM ET)
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela, Mpumalanga
Referee: Matthew Carley
How to watch: The match is available on SuperSport.
Team news:
South Africa have opted for an uncapped front row of Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouche. Meanwhile, Kolisi returns from injury at flank to captain the side, partnering two-time World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit.
Only five players retain their places in the starting lineup from the 45-0 win over Italy: Edwill van der Merwe, Canan Moodie, Grant Williams, Du Toit, and Ruan Nortje.
After Willie le Roux earned his 100th Springbok cap in the second Test against the Azzurri, Aphelele Fassi starts at fullback this time in a team which - although it contains familiar faces - is clearly more focused on the next generation of Springboks rather than the heroes who carried them at the start of Erasmus' reign as Director of Rugby.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu starts at flyhalf, with Handré Pollard one of three backline players on the bench in a 5-3 split. The others are Faf de Klerk and Damian Willemse.
Springboks:
Starting backs: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Grant Williams
Starting forwards: 8 Cobus Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Boan Venter
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Damian Willemse
Georgia:
TBC
Stats:
The only four players in the Springbok starting XV who have over 30 caps are Eben Etzebeth, Kolisi, Du Toit and Damian de Allende.
There are a combined 165 caps in the backline, 319 among the forwards, and 437 among players named on the bench.
South Africa have only played Georgia twice before, winning 46-19 at the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia and 40-9 in a 2021 Pretoria Test.