The Springbok hooker, Bongi Mbonambi, will take charge of the team for this weekend’s Rugby World Cup game against Romania in Bordeaux.

It will be the second time Mbonambi has captained the team after making his debut as skipper earlier in the year during the Rugby Championship.

Siya Kolisi is being rested ahead of next week’s big one against Ireland at Stade France.

In the backline, Canan Moodie and André Esterhuizen will start at centre, while Cobus Reinach and Damian Willemse will form the halfback combination.

Up front, Marvin Orie and Jean Kleyn play at lock, while Duane Vermeulen, Kwagga Smith and Marco van Staden will form the loose trio.

The replacement hooker, Deon Fourie, who will make his World Cup debut just two weeks before his 37th birthday.

Grant Williams on debut against Wales in Bloemfontein - Morgan Piek

Speaking about naming four scrumhalves in the squad, the coach Jacques Nienaber, said it gives them a lot of versatility in the team.

“From the start, people were wondering why we were taking four scrumhalves but if you look at the versatility within that, that's what we saw.

“Grant Williams played his school career on the wing, it was only in his last couple of games he moved to nine. Like you saw in the game against New Zealand, a guy like Cobus Reinach can help us out on the wing as well.

“Faf de Klerk, the majority of his school career, he played flyhalf. He has also played flyhalf for the Lions in Super Rugby and also for Sale Sharks in the Premiership. 

“Yes, there are four nines but a lot of them have played different positions. That's nice for us, the versatility that we get from them.”

The Boks will be playing against Romania for just their second time in their history and while they are minnows of World Rugby, they will be treated with respect.

Despite wholesale changes to the team, it remains a very strong team that will take to the park and it’s important for this game to be used to prepare for the rest of the tournament.

It’s also an ideal opportunity for several of the players to cement their spots in the team for the upcoming Pool B fixture against Ireland, which will most likely determine the winners of the Pool.

Vincent Koch after the 2019 Rugby World Cup final in Yokohama, Japan - Getty

The Boks tighthead prop, Vincent Koch, who earns a rare start in the number three jersey admitted that he doesn’t know too much about the Oaks, but believes that they will be tested upfront.

“I don't really know much of them but of course we've been analysing them this week. We saw they have a decent forward pack, they play with passion and they want to make their people back home very proud.

“We are looking forward to a nice physical battle against them, and of course their backs can do whatever they want.”

“I thought their forwards did really well against Ireland. They stole a few line-outs and the scrum was decent as well."

Sunday’s match between the Springboks and Romania in Bordeaux kicks off at 15:00.

Meanwhile, the week’s action kicks off on Thursday night with the hosts the France in action against Uruguay. This game in Lille will kick off at 11:00. On Friday night at 21:00 the All Blacks will face Namibia in Toulouse.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport