Snyman Hits 50 as Springboks Roll Out Full Strength Squad for Ireland Test

RG Snyman will bring up his 50th Test cap when South Africa face Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, headlining a Springbok squad that shows only two changes from the side that beat France 32-17 a fortnight ago.

Coach Rassie Erasmus has reverted to his core combinations after resting most of his first-choice players last week, aiming to match an Ireland team that has not lost at home to the Boks since 2012.

Ruan Nortje replaces Lood de Jager at lock, with Kwagga Smith returning to the bench, while Canan Moodie shifts to the wing in place of Kurt Lee Arendse, who has travelled home after a concussion. De Jager was unavailable because of his red card against France two weeks ago.

Snyman will provide lock cover from the bench.

The starting pack features Malcolm Marx, Thomas du Toit, and Boan Venter in the front row, with Eben Etzebeth pairing Nortje in the engine room and Siya Kolisi leading a back row of Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese. Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu resume their halfback partnership, with Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel in midfield, Cheslin Kolbe on the left wing and Damian Willemse at fullback.

Erasmus said the selection reflects the need for experience in Dublin’s demanding conditions, adding that Snyman’s milestone is fitting given his form and resilience. He warned that Ireland’s mix of hardened veterans and rising talent will test South Africa in every department, but insisted the Boks are energised by the challenge of chasing a rare away win – the last time the Springboks beat Ireland in Dublin was in 2012.

Springbok team to face Ireland in Dublin:

15 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers); 14 Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls); 13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles); 12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights); 11 Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath); 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers); 9 Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers); 8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks); 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz); 6 Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks); 5 Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls); 4 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks); 3 Thomas du Toit (Bath); 2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears); 1 Boan Venter (Edinburgh)

Replacements:

16 Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls); 17 Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls); 18 Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls); 19 RG Snyman (Leinster); 20 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs); 21 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks); 22 Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks); 23 Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners)