South Africa ‘A’ head coach Mzwandile Stick has announced five changes to his starting team to face English Premiership side Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate Stadium on Thursday.

The five changes include Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Marco van Staden, who has earned starts in a squad that features 12 capped Springboks.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu joined the SA ‘A’ team in Bristol on Sunday after spending the last two weeks with the Boks in Dublin and Toulon.

Meanwhile, Van Staden joined the SA ‘A’ team after being ruled out of Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber’s original 35-man Castle Lager Outgoing Tour travelling squad as a result of a rib injury.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu replaces Johan Goosen at flyhalf in a new halfback pairing with Grant Williams. The only other change in the backs is that Gianni Lombard replaces Aphelele Fassi at fullback, who hurt his ankle in last Thursday’s 28-14 loss to Munster.

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

Stick has chosen a bench lineup of six forwards and two backs, with JJ Kotze (hooker), Mornay Smith, Simphiwe Matanzima (both props), Dan du Preez (utility forward), Sikhumbuzo Notshe, and Buthelezi (both loose forwards) providing cover.

“It was always our intention to give everyone in the squad game time on this tour to assess our player resources and see what the players have to offer at this level,” said Stick.

“This week we will hand a few different players starting berths as the demands are different on players from the starting team and the bench.

“This is a very talented group of players and they have had a little more time to gel in the last few days after having very little time together before the Munster game, and we are confident that this will show when they take the field against Bristol.

“One of the changes was obviously injury-enforced with Aphelele ruled out, and this offered us an opportunity give Sacha some game time after watching from the sidelines in the last two Bok Test matches. He has really impressed the Springbok coaching staff at training with his skills and enthusiasm and we saw what he produced for the Junior Springboks and DHL Stormers, so we are excited to see him playing flyhalf in this match.

“Joseph, meanwhile, is on standby for the Springboks depending on the injury status in their camp and this sees Andre-Hugo earn a start at hooker and JJ get a run off the bench.”

South Africa ‘A’ team to face Bristol:

Gianni Lombard (Emirates Lions), Suleiman Hartzenberg (DHL Stormers), Henco van Wyk (Emirates Lions), Cornal Hendricks* (Vodacom Bulls), Leolin Zas (DHL Stormers), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Grant Williams* (Cell C Sharks), Jean-Luc du Preez* (Sale Sharks), Elrigh Louw* (Vodacom Bulls), Marco van Staden* (Vodacom Bulls),
Ruan Nortje* (Vodacom Bulls), Jason Jenkins* (Leinster), Thomas du Toit* (captain, Cell C Sharks), Andre-Hugo Venter (DHL Stormers), Ntuthuko Mchunu* (Cell C Sharks).

Replacements:

JJ Kotze (DHL Stormers), Simphiwe Matanzima (Vodacom Bulls), Mornay Smith (Vodacom Bulls), Dan du Preez* (Sale Sharks), Sikhumbuzo Notshe* (Cell C Sharks), Phepsi Buthelezi (Cell C Sharks), Sanele Nohamba (Emirates Lions),
Johan Goosen* (Vodacom Bulls).

Photo by Laszlo Geczo/INPHO/Shutterstock/BackpagePix