Blue Bulls wing Jamba Ulengo has been drafted into one of the most inexperienced South African back lines of all time to take over from Bryan Habana and Golden Lions centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg is another newcomer behind the scrum.
Springboks coach Allister Coetzee has selected a back division that can boast only 40 caps between them – a third of the number won by Habana alone and less than four individuals in the Welsh back line.
Cheetahs back row man Uzair Cassiem is the third new cap in the starting XV, with Sharks flanker Jean-Luc du Preez poised to follow his father, Robert, into the Springbok team off the bench. Coetzee has decided to use the last game of a miserable season to try to “build from ground zero” with the 2019 Rugby World Cup in mind.
With seven defeats already this year, including last weekend’s loss to Italy in Florence, it is one of the poorest 12 months in South African rugby history. But the coach remains upbeat about his young side’s chances in Cardiff after being impressed by the “enthusiasm” of the players.
“We have to put what happened last week against Italy behind us. On Monday the mood was really, really morbid and you could see the players were hurting,” said Coetzee.
“Our rugby is at rock bottom and so there is only one way to go, and that’s up. Last weekend was one of the lowest of lows in a year of lows, but I’m really positive about the future of Springbok rugby.
“It is time to back the youngsters and I think this is the right decision for the future of South African rugby. There s a lot of excitement and enthusiasm among these young players and they will all be up there fighting for places in the 2019 World Cup.”
Habana’s international career has been left hanging in the balance following his exclusion from the side. The 33-year-old Toulon wing, who has scored 67 tries in 124 appearances in his 12 year Test career, is one of seven changes to the starting XV from Florence.
“I don’t think it is the end for Bryan Habana. He doesn’t just have a role to play on the field, but a massive role to play off it for South African rugby,” said Coetzee.
“This week he has been sitting with Jamba Ulengo and mentoring him, sharing his knowledge and experience with him. That is important for us.
“Bryan understands that this is the role he has to play now and it is what we talked about when we sat down to talk about his involvement in the Rugby Championship and the end of season tour. Now we have to review that position.”
South Africa: J Goosen (Racing 92); R Combrinck (Golden Lions), Francois Venter (Cheetahs), R Janse van Rensburg (Golden Lions), J Ulengo (Blue Bulls); E Jantjies (Shining Arcs), F de Klerk (Golden Lions); T Mtawarira (Sharks), A Strauss (Blue Bulls, captain), L Adriaanse (Sharks), P du Toit (Western Province), L de Jager (Blue Bulls), N Carr (Western Province), U Cassiem (Cheetahs), W Whiteley (Red Hurricanes)
Replacements: M Marx (Golden Lions), S Kitshoff (Bordeaux-Begles), T Nyakane (Blue Bulls), F Mostert (Black Rams), J-L du Preez (Sharks), P van Zyl (Blue Bulls), P Lambie (Sharks), L Mapoe (Kubota Spears)
