Is THIS the Springbok starting XV to face Wales in Bloemfontein?

Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber will announce his 23-man squad to face Wales in the second Test in Bloemfontein on Tuesday afternoon.

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It took a late penalty from Damian Willemse for the Springboks to snatch victory from the jaws of what would have been a humiliating defeat in the opening encounter last Saturday in Pretoria.

Springboks ‘will be better’ in second Test in Bloemfontein

The good news for Springbok fans, though, is the fact that the world champions should be far better in next weekend’s second clash after shaking off the cobwebs at Loftus Versfeld, while there should be two key players returning to the run-on XV.

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Elton Jantjies endured a shocker in Pretoria and was replaced at half-time, with the 31-year-old clearly battling with form and confidence after recently recovering from a serious shoulder injury.

Handre Pollard is back in the Springbok camp after belatedly linking up with the squad after winning the Top 14 with French club Montpellier, and he should now be an automatic selection in the No 10 jersey this weekend.

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Meanwhile, 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year, Pieter-Steph du Toit, is also expected to be available for selection after his reintegration from injury.

Some have suggested he should be phased back off the bench, with youngster Elrigh Louw perhaps then earning a promotion to start at blindside flank in place of Franco Mostert.

Yet it’s most likely that the Springboks will not want to rush Louw straight into frontline action, and instead it should be Du Toit who reclaims the No 7 jersey.

The rest of the starting team is expected to remain firmly intact.

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Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber will name his match-day 23-man squad for the opening Test on Tuesday, 5 July at 12:30.

Ahead of him doing so, The South African website’s Craig Lewis and Garrin Lambley have selected the starting XV’s that they believe the Springboks’ brains trust will read out.

Meanwhile, Wales will name their starting XV and substitutes exactly 48 hours later on Thursday, 7 July at 12:30.

Kick-off for the Test in Bloemfontein is at 17:05 and, as always, the best place to follow the action LIVE is on The South African website.

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CRAIG LEWIS’ EXPECTED SPRINGBOK STARTING XV

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

GARRIN LAMBLEY’S EXPECTED SPRINGBOK STARTING XV

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

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