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Eben Etzebeth to lead Boks in opening game

Eben
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Lock Eben Etzebeth will captain South Africa in the first match of the Rugby Championship against Australia in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Etzebeth, who has captained the Springboks on 11 occasions, takes over the captaincy from Siya Kolisi who is still recovering from a knee injury.

There are two debutants in the starting 15 – Stormers scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies and Toulouse loose forward Rynhardt Elstadt.

Jantjies will play alongside the experienced flyhalf Elton Jantjies, while Elstadt forms a loose trio with fellow flank Pieter-Steph du Toit and eighthman Francois Louw.

Dillyn Leyds, Frans Steyn, Cobus Reinach and Marcell Coetzee all return to the Springbok fold for the first time under coach Rassie Erasmus and they’ll be playing off the bench.

Bulls prop Lizo Gqoboka is also set to make his debut off the bench.

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