The front row consists exclusively of former Toyota Cheetahs players, with Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouché all set to make their Test debuts.

Venter now plies his trade for Edinburgh in Scotland, while Van der Merwe is on the books at the Scarlets in Wales. Fouché, a Grey College product, plays for the Stormers but had a short stint with the Cheetahs in 2019. Both Van der Merwe and Venter came through the Cheetahs Academy in Bloemfontein earlier in their careers.

Boan Venter - Morgan Piek

Venter is also the son of former Griquas stalwart De Waal Venter, who represented South Africa A back in the day.

The trio will start Saturday’s match, while Upington-born Cobus Wiese earns his first run-on start, replacing his older brother Jasper at eighth-man. Jasper is currently serving a four-match suspension after receiving a red card against Italy last week. Cobus made his Springbok debut in that same match, coming off the bench during South Africa’s emphatic 45–0 win over the Azzurri in Gqeberha.

Other notable changes include regular captain Siya Kolisi making his first Test appearance of the season, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu starts at flyhalf and the dynamic Canan Moodie shifts to outside centre.

Erasmus says he wants his new-look front row to face a proper test against a traditionally powerful Georgian pack.

“They’re really big – I don’t think you get many people bigger than Georgian men,” Erasmus said.

“They’re some of the biggest players in France – that’s why the French clubs are signing so many of them. So yes, they’ll be physical.

“You asked about motivation – we saw against Italy that every team who comes here wants to prove a point. And I say that with respect, not arrogance. Being number one in the world means teams want to measure themselves against us.

Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouché - SA Rugby

“The Georgian team we’re playing now is much stronger than the one that faced the Free State. Eight of their top players didn’t feature that day.

“We’re starting this front row because we want Boan, Marnus and Neethling to experience what real Test rugby feels like. And Georgia will certainly give them that experience.

“We’ve learned from being a bit complacent in that first Italy Test. We don’t want to make that mistake again. I don’t think the whole group fully realises what we’re going to be up against on Saturday.”

Saturday’s Test at Mbombela Stadium kicks off at 17:10.

Springboks - 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Cobus Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Boan Venter

Replacements - 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Damian Willemse

Georgia - TBA

Morgan Piek OFM Sport