Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok and flanker Marco van Staden were full of praise for Willie le Roux, who will become only the eighth player in South African rugby history to play 100 Tests on Saturday, and said it motivated the team to make it a special occasion for the experienced fullback and the other players celebrating important milestones.

Willie le Roux will become the eighth Springbok centurion on Saturday when South Africa meet Italy in the second Castle Lager Incoming Series Test at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, in a new-look team which will be led by Salmaan Moerat and includes three uncapped players on the bench.

Springbok prop Thomas du Toit on Monday acknowledged that the team were far off the standards they had set for themselves in their Castle Lager Incoming Series opener against Italy in Pretoria last week, and said they were determined to deliver a vastly improved performance when the sides meet again at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday.

A frustrated Rassie Erasmus has blasted his players, adding he will consider changes for the second test after a “disappointing” victory over Italy on Saturday. 

Jesse Kriel, who will become South Africa’s 67th Test captain when he leads the Springboks against Italy at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, was delighted about the honour bestowed upon him, but he warned that it would be remiss to underestimate the Italians going into the clash.

The South African Rugby Union (SARU), SuperSport, and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), on Thursday, announced a broadcast agreement between the two media houses to enable the SABC to broadcast the forthcoming second Castle Lager Incoming Series Test match between the Springboks and Italy.

Springbok No 8 Jasper Wiese was thrilled to be back in the national squad after three months on the sidelines with a neck injury, and said on Thursday being in the group with his brother, Cobus, made his comeback even more special. Wiese, who will earn his 35th Test cap when he packs down at the

Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi and flyhalf Handre Pollard both sounded warning bells on Wednesday about the challenge they will face against Italy at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Vincent Tshituka will make his Test debut in an experienced match-23 named by Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus for Saturday’s Castle Lager Incoming Series opener against Italy in Pretoria, with Jesse Kriel captaining the side for the first time in a Test.