Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Van Staden start for SA A against Bristol Bears

Flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and flanker Marco van Staden will start for South Africa A when they tackle English club Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate Stadium on Thursday.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu joined the SA A team in Bristol on Sunday after spending the past fortnight with the Springboks in Dublin and Toulon. Van Staden was initially ruled out of the original 35-man Springbok travelling squad due to a rib injury but he has since recovered.

SA A head coach Mzwandile Stick made five changes to the starting XV that lost 28-14 to Munster in Cork last week. Thursday's match-day squad features 12 capped Springboks.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu replaces Johan Goosen at flyhalf in a new halfback pairing with Grant Williams, while the only other change among the backs is at fullback where Gianni Lombard takes over from Aphelele Fassi, who is sidelined with an ankle injury.

The changes in the forward pack are at hooker, where Andre-Hugo Venter is named in place of Joseph Dweba, who is on standby for the Springbok squad, while Van Staden replaces Phepsi Buthelezi at flank.

Stick opted for a six-two forwards-backs split on the bench. JJ Kotze (hooker), Mornay Smith, Simphiwe Matanzima (props), Dan du Preez (utility forward), Sikhumbuzo Notshe and Buthelezi (forwards) are the forward replacements, with Sanele Nohamba and Goosen the backline reserves.

Thursday's game kicks off at 21:30 (SA time).

15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Thomas du Toit (captain), 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu

Substitutes: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay