Eben starts, Eskom in for crocked Bok

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Eben Etzebeth will partner Franco Mostert in the Springbok second row against Wales on Saturday after Jean Kleyn was forced to withdraw from the match-day 23.

Etzebeth's promotion to the starting XV for the Cardiff clash sees flanker Marco van Staden being drafted onto the bench.

MORE: Cardiff clash no walkover for Boks – Kolisi

According to a SA Rugby statement, Kleyn has been ruled out “due to a niggle” and Rassie Erasmus decided to make the change on Friday morning.

"We feel for Jean as it would have been his first Test since the Rugby World Cup final last year, but Marco is also a Rugby World Cup winner and has been with the squad all season, and he has also been training with the squad all week and throughout the tour, so it was a logical choice for him to start on the bench," said Erasmus.

Springboks – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe,13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marco van Staden, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Handre Pollard.

Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images

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