Boks.

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named a strong lineup led by Rugby World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi, with 21 players in the match-23 having featured in the Springboks’ triumphant campaign in Japan in 2019. Pollard was named as the vice-captain.

Kolisi, Makazole Mapimpi and Ox Nché were the last group of players to report for duty at the Springbok camp in Cape Town on Monday morning after completing their mandatory self-isolation in Johannesburg, and they were all cleared to return to the field on Monday afternoon following a medical screening.

Nienaber was confident that all the players named in the side had the temperament and passion to give their all in this important Test.

The entire pack of forwards, the halfback pairing of Pollard and Faf de Klerk and Willie le Roux started the Test against Georgia which the Springboks won 40-9 a little over two weeks ago, meaning the team will enter the match with some valuable game time and continuity in selection.

The changes to the starting XV that ran out against Georgia were on the wings where Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe will be on duty, and in the midfield, where Damian de Allende will partner up with Lukhanyo Am – the same combinations that ran out in the Rugby World Cup Final.

The only two changes among the replacements were at loose forward where Rynhardt Elstadt replaces Jasper Wiese and Lood de Jager takes over from Marvin Orie.

Springbok team to face the British & Irish Lions

15 – Willie le Roux
14 – Cheslin Kolbe
13 – Lukhanyo Am
12 – Damian de Allende
11 – Makazole Mapimpi
10 – Handré Pollard
9 – Faf de Klerk
8 – Kwagga Smith
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit
6 – Siya Kolisi (c)
5 – Franco Mostert
4 – Eben Etzebeth
3 – Trevor Nyakane
2 – Bongi Mbonambi
1 – Ox Nché

Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx
17 – Steven Kitshoff
18 – Frans Malherbe
19 – Lood de Jager
20 – Rynhardt Elstadt
21 – Herschel Jantjies
22 – Elton Jantjies
23 – Damian Willemse