Boks shake up team for France Test, Libbok in line to make debut

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has made a few changes to his team for Saturday's Test against France in Marseille.

Stormers flyhalf Manie Libbok is chosen on the bench and will make his Test debut is he gets a run. Libbok's inclusion is likely to cover for the team's shaky goalkicking that was exposed in last weekend's 19-16 defeat to Ireland in Dublin.

In all, Nienaber has made five changes and two positional switches from the side that ran out against Ireland.

Willie le Roux comes back into the starting XV at fullback, with Cheslin Kolbe moving to right wing and Kurt-Lee Arendse to left wing as Makazole Mapimpi drops to the bench.

The other change in the backline sees Faf de Klerk replace Jaden Hendrikse at scrumhalf, forming a halfback combination with Damian Willemse.

The Bok mentor also made changes to his forward pack, with tighthead prop Frans Malherbe packing down in a new-look front row alongside Bongi Mbonambi (hooker) and Ox Nche (loosehead prop). Franco Mostert also starts at lock in place of the injured Lood de Jager.

Other changes on the bench include Cobus Reinach as scrumhalf cover, with Hendrikse dropping out of the match-day squad.

Steven Kitshoff (prop), Malcolm Marx (hooker) and Marvin Orie (lock) also feature on the bench as the Boks this week opted for a five-three forwards-backs split on the bench.

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Kwagga Smith 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Manie Libbok, 23