Springboks tweak pack for Italy Test, Esterhuizen slots into midfield

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has made a few tweaks to his team for Saturday's Test against Italy in Genoa.

Jasper Wiese returns at No 8 in a starting XV which also features new lock and centre pairings.

Wiese was a late withdrawal form last week's Test against France in Marseille due to concussion protocols. He takes over from Kwagga Smith, who drops down to the bench.

Stormers duo Salmaan Moerat and Marin Orie will form a starting lock combination, with Lood de Jager having returned home with a shoulder injury and Eben Etzebeth given a breather on the bench.

There is also a positional switch in the pack, with Franco Mostert moving from lock to flanker in place of Pieter-Steph du Toit, who is awaiting a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday for a red card received against France.

In the backline, Andre Esterhuizen comes in at inside centre in a new-look midfield pairing with Damian de Allende, who switches to outside centre in place of Jesse Kriel.

Meanwhile, Stormers No 8 Evan Roos will feature on the bench alongside forwards Etzebeth, Smith, and the front row of Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch (props) and Malcolm Marx (hooker) in a six-two forwards-backs split. 

Cobus Reinach (scrumhalf) and Manie Libbok (utility back) are the backline reserves.

Saturday's Test kicks off at 15:00 (SA time).

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Damian de Allende, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Evan Roos, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok

"A couple of players