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Beast Mtawarira and Bongi Mbonambi will both start for the Springboks in their crucial World Cup clash with Italy in Shizuoka on Friday.
The two, along with lock Lood de Jager, have been promoted to the starting line-up with three changes to the side that faced the All Blacks in the World Cup opener.
Mtawarira and Mbonambi leapfrog Steven Kitshoff and Malcolm Marx, who both drop to the bench, while De Jager takes Franco Mostert’s place and forms the second-row combination with Eben Etzebeth.
The backline remains unchanged from the one that went down in the Pool B opener in Yokohama.
Rassie Erasmus has opted for a 6-2 forwards split on his bench in anticipation of a physical match against the Azurri. Both Mostert and Francois Louw have been named as substitutes, while Herschel Jantjies and Frans Steyn are the only backline replacements.
Jesse Kriel has not been passed fit after taking a hamstring knock against the All Blacks and will again sit the match out. — SA Rugby Mag.
Bongani Ndlovu