The Springboks are planning to unleash the likes of Lukhanyo Am and Pieter-Steph du Toit on the Wallabies, despite using a split-squad system in the Rugby Championship.
Jacques Nienaber said this week that the Boks intend to repeat the plan that saw them clinch the Rugby Championship title in 2019 by splitting the squad for the opening two Tests of the competition.
This will see a group of players and management members travel to Auckland in the week of the opening Test against Australia at Loftus Versfeld (on Saturday 8 July) to acclimatise and get their preparations underway for the second Test against New Zealand at Mount Smart Stadium (Saturday 15 July).
However, despite utilising the system, the Springboks are still expected to field a powerful lineup against Eddie Jones’ Wallabies.
According to Sunday newspaper Rapport, the lineup is likely to include Am, Du Toit and veteran No 8 Duane Vermeulen. All three are candidates to captain the team.
Given that the Test will be held at Loftus Versfeld, Willie le Roux will be joined by Vodacom Bulls wings Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie in an exciting outside backs combination.
As the fully-fit first-choice No 10 Manie Libbok will reportedly start alongside Cobus Reinach in the halfbacks, while Damian Willemse, recovering from a knee injury, and Faf de Klerk will be on the flight to New Zealand.
There could also be space for Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Frans Malherbe in the front row.
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