Pieter-Steph du Toit will captain a young Springboks team featuring seven uncapped players in the starting lineup against Wales this Saturday at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C.

Du Toit, who will start at lock, will lead South Africa for the first time when it takes on the Welsh in this one-off international. South Africa and Wales have left some players back home mostly because this game falls outside the official test match window and pro teams aren't required to release their players.

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The seven South Africa debutants are wings Travis Ismaiel and Makazole Mapimpi, center Andre Esterhuizen, scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl, flanker Kwagga Smith (flank), lock Jason Jenkins, and prop forward Ox Nche.

Six more players are on the bench and could earn their first caps: Akker van der Merwe (hooker), Thomas du Toit (prop), Marvin Orie (lock), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (loose forward), Embrose Papier (scrumhalf), and Robert du Preez (flyhalf).

Head coach Rassie Erasmus will be relying on an experienced group: Jesse Kriel, Elton Jantjies, Oupa Mohoje, Du Toit, and Chiliboy Ralepelle. 

“As coaches, we are tremendously excited about the prospect of seeing some of our best young players getting the opportunity to play at this level,” Erasmus said.

Wales had the upper hand over the Springboks in their last two encounters, both played in Cardiff, and according to Erasmus, the Welsh will be especially motivated to continue with that trend.

“Wales have a very solid and effective kicking strategy and their cohesive forward and set-piece play are some of their main strong points," he added. "However, I do believe that we have picked a match-day squad that will be able to compete very strongly."

The Springbok team to face Wales in Washington D.C.
15. Curwin Bosch (Cell C Sharks, 1, 0)
14. Travis Ismaiel (Vodacom Bulls, uncapped)
13. Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls, 29, 40 - 8t)
12. Andre Esterhuizen (Cell C Sharks, uncapped)
11. Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks, uncapped)
10. Elton Jantjies (Emirates Lions, 23, 203 - 2t, 38c, 39p)
9. Ivan van Zyl (Vodacom Bulls, uncapped)
8. Dan du Preez (Cell C Sharks, 3, 0)
7. Oupa Mohoje (Toyota Cheetahs 18, 0)
6. Kwagga Smith (Emirates Lions, uncapped)
5. Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain, DHL Stormers, 32, 20 - 4t)
4. Jason Jenkins (Vodacom Bulls, uncapped)
3. Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers, 5, 0)
2. Chiliboy Ralepelle (Cell C Sharks 23, 5 - 1t)
1. Ox Nche (prop, Toyota Cheetahs, uncapped)

Replacements: 
16. Akker van der Merwe (Cell C Sharks, uncapped)
17. Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers, 23, 5 - 1t)
18. Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks, uncapped)
19. Marvin Orie (Emirates Lions, uncapped)
20. Sikhumbuzo Notshe (DHL Stormers, uncapped)
21. Embrose Papier (Vodacom Bulls, uncapped)
22. Robert du Preez (Cell C Sharks, uncapped)
23. Warrick Gelant (Vodacom Bulls, 2, 5 - 1t)