Here is why the Springboks team has changed — Fassi in, Le Roux out

Cape Town – Aphelele Fassi has replaced veteran fullback Willie le Roux in the Springbok team to face Australia in their Rugby Championship match at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

South Africa Rugby announced on Friday 36-year-old Le Roux, who won his 100th Test cap against Italy last month, had been forced to withdraw because of a “niggle”.

𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Willie le Roux suffered a niggle at training this week and has not recovered in time to play.

Rassie Erasmus has brought Aphelele Fassi straight into the starting line-up this weekend to face the Wallabies.#SSRugby | #TheRugbyChampionship pic.twitter.com/ocvZzIW7MM

— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 22, 2025

Fassi returns to the team after being one of ten players dropped from the starting line-up following the Springboks 38-22 defeat by the Wallabies in Johannesburg last Saturday.

Revised team (15-1):

Aphelele Fassi; Canan Moodie, Jesse Kriel (capt), Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe; Handre Pollard, Grant Williams; Jean-Luc du Preez, Franco Mostert, Marco van Staden; Ruan Nortje, RG Snyman; Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche.

Replacements: Marnus van der Merwe, Boan Venter, Wilco Louw, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.