WATCH: Rassie Erasmus talks about his deep love of Bloemfontein
Rassie Erasmus is happy to be back in Bloemfontein which he says is the friendly city and not just the City of Roses.
![WATCH: Rassie Erasmus talks about his deep love of Bloemfontein](https://www.thesouthafrican.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Rassie-erasmus-springboks-2.jpg.optimal.jpg?#)
Bloemfontein means a lot to Rassie Erasmus, from his formative years to his early rugby career.
The Springbok coach is delighted to be back in the City of Roses this weekend to face Portugal.
WATCH: Rassie Erasmus talks about his Bloemfontein connection
![Springbok coach](https://www.thesouthafrican.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Rassie-Erasmus-Springboks-1-800x529.jpg.optimal.jpg.webp)
Springbok team to face Portugal in Bloemfontein
15 – Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 4 caps, 10 points (2t)
14 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 17 caps, 70 points (14t)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 35 caps, 30 pts (6t)
12 – Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 17 caps, 0 pts
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 42 caps, 135 points (27t)
10 – Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 14 caps, 87 pts (1t, 26c, 10p)
9 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 32 caps, 65 pts (13t)
8 – Evan Roos (DHL Stormers) – 6 caps, 0 points
7 – Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers) – 1 cap, 0 points
6 – Phepsi Buthelezi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – uncapped
5 – RG Snyman (Leinster) – 36 caps, 10 points (2t)
4 – Salmaan Moerat (captain, DHL Stormers) – 6 caps, 0 points
3 – Thomas du Toit (Bath) – 18 caps, 0 pts
2 – Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls) – uncapped
1 – Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls) – uncapped
Replacements:
16 – Andre-Hugo Venter (DHL Stormers) – uncapped
17 – Ntuthuko Mchunu (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 2 caps, 0 points
18 – Trevor Nyakane (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 67 caps, 5 pts (1t)
19 – Ruan Venter (Emirates Lions) – uncapped
20 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 3 caps, 0 points
21 – Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions) – uncapped
22 – Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 3 caps, 7 points (2c, 1p)
23 – Quan Horn (Emirates Lions) – uncapped
Stats and facts
- This will mark the first Test between the Springboks and Portugal.
- Manie Libbok requires 13 points in the match to hit the 100-point mark in Test rugby.
- This will mark the first time this season that Rugby World Cup winners Lukhanyo Am, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok, Thomas du Toit and Trevor Nyakane will run out in the Bok jersey.
- Salmaan Moerat becomes the 66th Springbok captain.
- Should Andre-Hugo Venter be sent on, he will follow in the footsteps of his father, Andre Venter, who played 66 Tests for South Africa between 1996 and 2001. They will become the 16th father/son combination to play for the Boks.
- The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 228.
- There are 161 caps in the backline, with 67 caps among the forwards. On the bench there are a further 75
- The average caps per player in the backline is 23, the forwards 8, while the players on the bench average 9.
Can Rassie Erasmus deliver another RWC?
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