Springboks fielding Hendrikse brothers and taking winless Wales seriously
South Africa’s Jaden Hendrikse, left, kicks the ball clears the ball as Scotland’s Scott Cummings, right, attempts to charge the ball down during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and South Africa in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Brothers Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse will start as South Africa’s halves against Wales in their autumn tour finale in Cardiff on Saturday.
The world champion Springboks have changed seven in the starting lineup after beating England 29-20 last weekend at Twickenham, and uncapped Bulls flanker Cameron Hanekom is in the reserves.
The Hendrikses — Jaden at scrumhalf and Jordan at flyhalf — are the first brothers to appear together for the Boks since Dan and Robert du Preez in 2018 against Wales in Washington. The last brothers to start for the Boks were front-rowers Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis in the 2015 Rugby World Cup against Scotland in Newcastle.
The five who have come into the forward pack include front-rowers Johan Grobbelaar and Thomas du Toit, locks Franco Mostert and Jean Kleyn, and flanker Elrigh Louw. Only captain Siya Kolisi, No. 8 Jasper Wiese and loosehead Ox Nche were retained, Nche after recovering from a cut above his knee against England.
Kleyn, who replaced the injured Ruan Nortje on tour, makes his first appearance since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and Grobbelaar his first since August.
“Jordan played against Wales in June, and we are very excited to see how he dictates play with Jaden alongside him,” coach Rassie Erasmus said on Tuesday. “We are also delighted that Cameron is getting a chance to play after showing his class at training throughout the tour and for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship.
“Cameron also offers us a few options at loose forward as he can play No. 6, No. 7 and No. 8, and that will be valuable with two locks on the bench.”
Locks Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman, who started against England, have been rotated onto a bench split 6-2.
Erasmus said they were determined to complete an unbeaten tour and were not underestimating Wales, which has lost a record 11 straight tests. The streak includes a 41-13 defeat to South Africa in June at Twickenham.
“We’ll show Wales the same respect we showed England and Scotland, and we know we have to be at our best to come out with the result we want,” Erasmus said.
“They are a team with everything to gain and nothing to lose, so it would be careless of us to think that we just need to pitch up and the result will go in our favor. In fact, a little over a year ago, they played in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal, which is a testament to the force they can be.”
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South Africa: Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse; Jasper Wiese, Elrigh Louw, Siya Kolisi (captain), Franco Mostert, Jean Kleyn, Thomas du Toit, Johan Grobbelaar, Ox Nche. Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, RG Snyman, Cameron Hanekom, Cobus Reinach, Handre Pollard.
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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby