Springboks axe 10 players – including Du Preez twins – from squad

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber elected to cut no fewer than 10 players from his bloated 47-man squad after he named his team to take on the British & Irish Lions in the first Test at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

Kick-off is scheduled for 18:00.

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In addition to revealing his Springboks side, Nienaber cut 10 players from the inflated squad who will now return to their franchises and clubs and will presumably play no part in the remaining two Tests – especially those players who play abroad.

The 10 in question are: Yaw Penxe and Rosko Specman (wings), Wandisile Simelane (centre), Sanele Nohamba (scrumhalf), Dan du Preez (loose forward), Jean-Luc du Preez (utility forward), Coenie Oosthuizen and Lizo Gqoboka (props), Scarra Ntubeni and Fez Mbatha (hookers).

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There will be raised eyebrows particularly surrounding the axing of the Du Preez twins who were standout performers for Sale Sharks in the Gallagher Premiership this past season.

In particular, Jean-Luc du Preez can cover lock and loose forward such is his versatility, while Dan du Preez has spent time at No 8 where the Springboks are missing talisman Duane Vermeulen.

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It remains to be seen whether the brains trust at SA Rugby has erred in their decision.

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TEAMS:

South Africa

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Rynhardt Elstadt, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Damian Willemse

British & Irish Lions

15. Stuart Hogg (Scotland), 14. Anthony Watson (England), 13. Elliot Daly (England), 12. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), 11. Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland), 10. Dan Biggar (Wales), 9. Ali Price (Scotland), 8. Jack Conan (Ireland), 7. Tom Curry (England), 6. Courtney Lawes (England), 5. Alun Wyn Jones (captain – Wales), 4. Maro Itoje (England), 3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (England), 1. Wyn Jones (Wales)

Substitutes: 16. Ken Owens (Wales), 17. Rory Sutherland (Scotland), 18. Kyle Sinckler (England), 19. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), 20. Hamish Watson (Scotland), 21. Conor Murray (Ireland), 22. Owen Farrell (England), 23. Liam Williams (Wales)