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Aphelele Fassi during training
A late injury withdrawal has disrupted the plans Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus had in store for Saturday’s second Rugby Championship test match against Australia in Cape Town.
Aphelele Fassi will now start following the withdrawal of Willie le Roux due to an injury.
Le Roux, who became the eighth player in South African rugby history to feature in 100 Tests earlier this season, suffered the niggle at training earlier this week and has not recovered in time to play.
That prompted Erasmus to draft Fassi straight into the starting lineup.
Fassi started last week’s Test against the Wallabies in Johannesburg, where the Springboks went down 38-22.
Updated Springboks team:
15–Aphelele Fassi, 14–Canan Moodie, 13–Jesse Kriel (captain), 12–Damian de Allende, 11–Cheslin Kolbe, 10–Handre Pollard, 9–Grant Williams, 8–Jean-Luc du Preez, 7–Franco Mostert, 6–Marco van Staden, 5–Ruan Nortje, 4–RG Snyman, 3–Thomas du Toit, 2–Malcolm Marx, 1–Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16–Marnus van der Merwe, 17–Boan Venter, 18–Wilco Louw, 19–Eben Etzebeth, 20–Lood de Jager, 21–Kwagga Smith, 22–Cobus Reinach, 23–Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
