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TOULON, France (AP) — South Africa moved Damian Willemse to fly-half and made 14 player changes for the Rugby World Cup match against Romania, including selecting scrum-half Grant Williams at right wing.
The Boks rested their weapons in anticipation of the Group B decider against top-ranked Ireland, and Willemse was the only player retained by the defending champions from the starting team that beat Scotland 18-3 on Sunday. Willemse started that game at fullback.
There was still plenty of experience in the 15 to face Romania in Bordeaux on Sunday, with veteran Duane Vermeulen at No. 8 and Willie le Roux at full-back.
Hooker Bongi Mbonambi captains the team, which has a completely new forward group, including Jean Kleyn and Marvin Orie in the second row and Marco van Staden and Kwagga Smith on the flanks.
Williams at wing was coach Jacques Nienaber’s most intriguing selection, although Williams’ speed is well known in South Africa. He has already worked as a winger from the bench.
Cobus Reinach starts at number 9 and Jaden Hendrikse is the scrum-half on the bench. Nienaber also selected another regular scrum-half, Faf de Klerk, as fly-half on the bench while Manie Libbok, the team’s only specialist 10, was rested.
This meant the Boks found a place in the 23rd match for the four scrum-half they have in their team.
“We have been rotating and testing players in different positions since last season so we are lucky to have a group of 33 players in France who are very similar in terms of quality of play and skills,” Nienaber said.
Andre Esterhuizen and Canan Moodie were called up in the centres, the same combination the Springboks fielded in the 35-7 demolition of New Zealand before the Rugby World Cup. Makazole Mapimpi is on the left wing.
Deon Fourie is on the bench at hooker cover despite having more recently played on the wing. Fourie, 36, was the Springboks’ oldest debutant when he played his first Test last year.
Romania lost to Ireland 82-8 in their first match.
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South Africa: Willie le Roux, Grant Williams, Canan Moodie, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Damian Willemse, Cobus Reinach; Duane Vermeulen, Kwagga Smith, Marco van Staden, Marvin Orie, Jean Kleyn, Vincent Koch, Bongi Mbonambi (captain), Ox Nche. Reserves: Deon Fourie, Steven Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane, RG Snyman, Jasper Wiese, Jaden Hendrikse, Faf de Klerk, Jesse Kriel.
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AP Rugby World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
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