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The world champion Springboks deny they are disrespecting the Wallabies by sending 13 top players to New Zealand instead of fielding them against Australia in Pretoria.
The list of stars preparing to play the All Blacks includes Malcolm Marx, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Faf de Klerk, Cheslin Kolbe, Makazole Mapimpi and Damian de Allende.
Inspirational captain Siya Kolisi, who had surgery on his right knee in late April and is in a race to be fit for the World Cup, is also with the group flying early to New Zealand for the second round of the Rugby Championship in Auckland on July 15.
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South Africa were initially going to send 14 players with the advance party but prop Ox Nche hurt his chest in training, meaning Steven Kitshoff will remain with the Springboks preparing for the clash with the Wallabies at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday (AEST).
“Our plan from the outset was to select a squad that we believe has what it takes to beat Australia while at the same time selecting a group of players that could travel to New Zealand to give us the best possible chance to do well in both matches,” Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber explained.
The Wallabies are yet to beat the Springboks in Pretoria in seven attempts but Nienaber is wary of the Eddie Jones effect.
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“They are a top class team and have a great tactician in head coach Eddie Jones. This will be the first time we see them play under his leadership in a while so our focus is mainly on our game and what we would like to do in the match,” he said.
“This game is very important to set the tone for us this season, and we know that regardless of what style of play Australia dishes up it’s going to be a physical and hard match.”
With Kolisi and Handre Pollard injured, No.8 Duane Vermeulen will captain South Africa and Manie Libbok will make his first start at No.10.
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Nienaber also gave a Test debut to lock Jean Kleyn – a South Africa-born former Ireland international who was recently cleared to play for the Springboks.
Damian Willemse has only recently recovered from injury and is on the bench.
Like Libbok, flanker Marco van Steden is set to make his first start after having previously appeared for South Africa off the bench.
It is unclear whether Nche will be fit to play.
“We haven’t received the results officially back yet, but we are making some contingency plans for if he is ruled out,” Nienaber said.
“He was selected to start, and like we said last week, some of the players will fly tonight to New Zealand and some of the players will fly a little bit later in the week.
“They’ll only fly once the squad that are going to play against Australia are nice and settled with a clean bill of health.”
Jones was a consultant on the Springboks coaching staff when they won their second Rugby World Cup title in France in 2007 and coached England in its loss to South Africa in the World Cup final four years ago.
Jones will name his team on Thursday.
SPRINGBOKS (15-1): Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Manie Libbok, Cobus Reinach, Duane Vermeulen (c), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marco van Staden, Marvin Orie, Jean Kleyn, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche
Reserves: Joseph Dweba, Thomas du Toit, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Evan Roos, Deon Fourie, Grant Williams, Damian Willemse
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