Venter replaces Ox for French

Rassie has picked a very strong team for what should be the match of the year. The French has been really hurt by the close loss in the World Cup quarter final and based on all the talk will be out for serious revenge. The Boks will likely face a pretty hostile crowd as well.

Boan Venter will replace the injured Ox Nche with Thomas du Toit returning to the starting lineup. Damian Willemse is back at 15 so Ethan Hooker drops out of the squad. Rassie has gone for Jesse Kriel over Canaan Moodie. There is no place for Handre Pollard with Manie Libbok preferred on the bench.

Kwagga Smith carries a niggle – so Andre Esterhuizen in his new hybrid role will have to supply Kwagga’s impact later in the game.

France has a bit of a prop crisis so tight head Régis Montagne will gets his first start having 2 caps off the bench. Likewise loose head Baptiste Erdocio also have 2 caps. There is quite a bit of experience in the bench front row.

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Boan Venter.
Bench: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Ruan Nortje, 21 Andre Esterhuizen, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok.

15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Gaël Fickou (c), 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Nolann Le Garrec, 8 Mickaël Guillard, 7 Paul Boudehent, 6 Anthony Jelonch, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Régis Montagne, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Baptiste Erdocio.
Bench: 16 Guillaume Cramont, 17 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifénua, 20 Hugo Auradou, 21 Oscar Jegou, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Nicolas Depoortere.