South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has kept most of his established internationals at home and selected seven new caps in an inexperienced side for Saturday’s clash with Wales at the Robert F Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington DC.
Erasmus is primarily focused on the upcoming home series against England that starts in Johannesburg on June 9, and opted not to send the majority of players likely to be involved in those three Tests to the United States.
The match also falls outside of the June international window, which restricted the South Africa coach from picking overseas-based players.
Lock Pieter-Steph du Toit will captain a side that has just 134 Test caps and an average age of 24 among the starting XV.
Wings Travis Ismaiel and Makazole Mapimpi will get their first outing in a Bok jersey, along with centre Andre Esterhuizen, scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl, Sevens veteran and flank Kwagga Smith, lock Jason Jenkins and prop Ox Nche.
“As coaches, we are tremendously excited about the prospect of seeing some of our best young players getting the opportunity to play at this level,” Erasmus said in a media release from South African Rugby.
“Wales have a very solid and effective kicking strategy. Their cohesive forward and set-piece play are some of their main strong points. However, I do believe that we have picked a match-day squad that will be able to compete very strongly.”
There are another six uncapped players on the bench including flyhalf Robert du Preez, who if he makes it onto the pitch will mark the first time in South African rugby history that a father and three sons have played for the national team.
The quartet would consist of Robert Sr and two more of his children, Jean-Luc and Daniel, who have already worn the Bok jersey.
Team: Curwin Bosch, Travis Ismaiel, Jesse Kriel, Andre Esterhuizen , Makazole Mapimpi, Elton Jantjies, Ivan van Zyl, Dan du Preez, Oupa Mohoje, Kwagga Smith, Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), Jason Jenkins, Wilco Louw, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Ox Nche. Res: Akker van der Merwe, Steven Kitshoff, Thomas du Toit, Marvin Orie, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Embrose Papier, Robert du Preez, Warrick Gelant.