It will appear that he will be taking a calculated risk by naming an inexperienced back three for the match in the capital.

Andries Coetzee is expected to start at fullback, with Raymond Rhule and Courtnall Skoshan on the wing.

Injuries to Damien de Allende and Lionel Mapoe means that Jesse Kriel and Jan Serfontein will patrol the midfield, with the versatile Frans Steyn on the bench.

It’s almost a no-brainer that Elton Jantjies will marshal the backline while Ross Cronje should be on debut for the side at scrumhalf.

The captain, Warren Whiteley, will start in the number-8 jersey, as is the norm, with the Stormers skipper, Siya Kolisi, and the Toyota Cheetahs man, Oupa Mohoje, set to run out at flank.

There is no space in the side for Lood de Jager, and Pieter-Steph du Toit will play off the bench. This means that Eben Etzebeth and Franco Mostert will play in the second-row.

Upfront Malcolm Marx will play at hooker with Beast Mtawarira and Frans Malherbe at prop.

It’s a reasonably exciting side with a good mix of experience and youth as is it a team which is loaded with players that are in some seriously good form.

The lock Etzebeth says there is a lot of excitement in the camp ahead of the Test and he feels that they are better prepared than last year this time.

“If I have to use one word it would be preparation.

“We’ve had a lot more training camps, whereas last year we didn’t have any. We had the week in Plettenberg Bay where we got to know each other and work on our culture.

“That is the biggest difference between last year and this year.”

The Stormers enforcer added that he welcomes the expected physical battle this weekend against Les Blues.

“Yes, like I said Saturday, it’s going to be a physical encounter and they are going to be like that from one to eight.

“We’re really looking forward to that and I am especially.

“We have to climb into their forwards and we’re all really excited.”

Saturday’s 1st Test between the Springboks and France at Loftus Versfeld kicks off at 17:00.

Springboks - 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Raymond Rhule, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Courtnall Skoshan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, Tendai Mtawarira.

Replacements - 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 20 Jean-Luc du Preez, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Dillyn Leyds.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport