“Wilco started last week’s match, and he’s been training well this week, so it makes sense to include him in the starting team and move Thomas to loose head prop. It also maintains the consistency we have in the front row among the replacements,” Erasmus pointed out.
The Bok coach also revealed that four players who were not included in the match day squad would return home on Wednesday to spend time with their families before returning to their respective clubs and franchises.
Utility forward Pieter-Steph du Toit, who is nursing a shoulder niggle, returned home on Monday, while the other four players returning home are loose forward Kwagga Smith, centres Lukhanyo Am, André Esterhuizen and wing Makazole Mapimpi.
“We gave a few players who are not playing the option to remain in camp or return home to spend quality time with their families, while ensuring that we have enough depth in the squad to cover all the positions in case we suffer injuries before the match,” Erasmus said.
“So, we are confident we are well covered in the event anything should happen before the game.