After defeats Boks change pack for Italy

South Africa will field a new second row and have also been forced to shift Franco Mostert to flanker for the test against Italy on Saturday.

The world champions are desperate to get a victory on the board on their European tour after defeats to Ireland and France.

Italy is the best opportunity for a victory as the Springboks finish their trip against England at Twickenham.

Locks Salmaan Moerat and Marvin Orie will pack down together in place of Mostert and Eben Etzebeth against an Italian team buoyed by a one-point victory over Australia last weekend.

Etzebeth was given a place on the bench in the line-up announced on Tuesday.

Mostert is needed on the side of the scrum to replace Pieter-Steph du Toit, who was sent off in the 30-26 loss to France in Marseille for a dangerous clean-out at a ruck that left French centre Jonathan Danty with a broken cheekbone.

Du Toit faces a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday and is expected to be banned for the rest of the tour.

“Italy’s victory against Australia will boost their confidence immensely going into this match, and we are expecting them to draw a lot of energy from their home crowd,” Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber said.

In other changes for South Africa, Andre Esterhuizen is in at inside centre and Damian de Allende shifts to 13, with Jesse Kriel dropped. The rest of the backline is unchanged.

Jasper Wiese returns at No. 8 after missing the France game with a concussion and loose forward Evan Roos is on the bench and primed for his first appearance of the tour. The Springboks will start the same front row of Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Frans Malherbe.

South Africa: Le Roux, Kolbe, De Allende, Esterhuizen, Arendse, Willemse, De Klerk; Wiese, Mostert, Kolisi (c), Orie, Moerat, Malherbe, Mbonambi, Nche. Reserves: Marx, Kitshoff, Koch, Etzebeth, Smith, Roos, Reinach, Libbok.