Johannesburg – Duane Vermeulen has backed the appointment of Siya Kolisi as Springbok captain for the upcoming series against England.

Vermeulen is expected to start at No 8 in Saturday’s first Test against England in Johannesburg, while Kolisi will lead the Boks out in the No 6 jersey.

With 39 Tests to his name, Vermeulen was also considered one of the top contenders for the Bok captaincy despite playing his rugby in Toulon in France.

In the end, though, Bok coach Rassie Erasmus opted for Kolisi and it is a decision that Vermeulen backs having spent significant time with Kolisi at the Stormers.

“He was the young guy coming into the Stormers set-up and I knew there was always something special in him,” Vermeulen told media in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

“He worked hard as a player and it took him a couple of seasons to become a well-renowned player in the Stormers mix in Currie Cup, Super Rugby and at Springbok level.

“He’s a great choice. He’s a good leader and I think a lot of guys look up to him.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for him, on and off the field. He’s a really great guy and a guy that can inspire this group of people.”

Kolisi will become the first black Test captain of the Springboks.

Kick-off on Saturday is at 17:05.

VIDEO: @duane_vermeulen says there was always something special about new @Springboks captain Siya Kolisi. pic.twitter.com/0GpwwMOeO4

— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) June 5, 2018

Paris – Faultless Argentinian flyhalf Benjamin Urdapilleta kicked 19 points to guide Castres to a convincing 29-13 victory over Montpellier in the Top 14 final on Saturday.

Castres sprang out to lead 19-6 at the break, Urdapilleta on target with four penalties before converting Julien Dumora’s try, Springbok Ruan Pienaar hitting two penalties for Montpellier, league table toppers at the end of regulation season.

Montpellier hit back with a deserved penalty try in the second period, Urdapilleta knocking over his fifth penalty before Steve Mafi crashed over for his team’s second try with five minutes to play.

Castres coach Christophe Urios had warned his side, which finished in the sixth and final playoff spot, were “laid back but ambitious” and so it proved against a star-studded Montpellier side for whom Pienaar and All Black flyhalf Aaron Cruden were unable to dictate the flow of play.

Pienaar missed a fourth-minute penalty, but Urdapilleta made no such mistake a couple of minutes later to open the scoring at a packed Stade de France.

Montpellier were eventually on target in the 12th minute, Bok centre Frans Steyn booting a three-pointer.

Urdapilleta, capped 10 times by Argentina, restored Castres’ lead with his second and third penalties in quick succession in a close first quarter of a physical match.

Steyn went wide with a penalty effort from his own half, but Montpellier – with 10 of the starting XV foreigners (6 South Africans, and one each from Australia, Fiji, Georgia and New Zealand) – were made to pay for a further indiscretion as the 32-year-old Urdapilleta booted his fourth penalty.

Pienaar pulled one back to make it 12-6, but Castres, with a heroic defence against a flat-footed Montpellier, delivered a hammer blow just before the break.

Boxed into their own 22-metre area, Montpellier botched the line-out with an untidy slapdown that went dead to gift Castres a 5m scrum.

Scrumhalf Rory Kockott consequently worked his forwards, Urdapilleta a decoy in the box for a possible drop-goal.

But suddenly Kockott moved the ball wide, centre Thomas Combezou straightened before feeding Dumora, who feigned a pass to scythe past a leaden-footed Fulgence Ouedraogo for a try, Urdapilleta hitting the extras.

Montpellier, undoubtedly fired up by a rocket of a half-time talk from coach Vern Cotter – who lost three Top 14 finals with Clermont, took the game by the scruff of the necks at the start of the second period.

Castres held out as long as they could before first lock Loic Jacquet was yellow carded and then a penalty try was awarded as Montpellier took advantage of their numerical advantage in the subsequent scrum.

Remarkably, Castres then went on to retain possession through a long sequence of plays, running down the remainder of the 10 minutes Jacquet was in the sin bin. It ended with a high tackle on winger David Smith, Urdapilleta kicking his fifth penalty.

The misfiring Pienaar put another penalty wide after a charge by Alexandre Dumoulin, spurning another chance to go for the corner.

That backfired, however, as Castres masterfully worked the lineout maul into touch.

Moving back upfield, Castres’ Tongan replacement Mafi crashed over from close range to drive the nail into Cotter’s hopes, Urdapilleta tellingly having the final word with a successful conversion to cap an outstanding individual performance.

Cape Town – Ellis Jenkins will captain Wales for the first time on Saturday when he leads his country against the Springboks in Washington DC.

The former Wales U20 skipper will line up alongside Seb Davies and Ross Moriarty in the back-row as Wales take on the Springboks in their once-off Test.

Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee and Dillon Lewis start in the front-row with Bradley Davies and Cory Hill packing down in the second-row.

Owen Watkin and George North are named in the centre, with North making his fourth start in the midfield for Wales.

Steff Evans and Tom Prydie are named on the wing with Prydie making his first international appearance since the summer of 2013. Hallam Amos starts at full-back.

“Saturday is a huge opportunity for this squad and for players individually,” said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.

“Everything we are doing is geared for the Rugby World Cup in 15 months’ time and the next three matches are a hugely important part of our development.

“This weekend is an opportunity for players to build on their test rugby experience and lay a marker down for the jersey and for the position going forward,” he said.

“I think there are exciting selections across the team and I’m looking forward to Saturday to see what we are able to do against the Springboks.”

Ryan Elias, Wyn Jones and Rhodri Jones provide the forward cover on the bench. Adam Beard and uncapped flanker Aaron Wainwright complete the forward contingent.

Aled Davies, Rhys Patchell and Hadleigh Parkes are named as the backline cover. Patchell will undergo a fitness test ahead of the game with Gareth Davies providing cover if he does not come through the session.

Kick-off on Saturday is at 23:00 SA time.

Teams:

South Africa

15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Ox Nche

Substitutes: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Robert du Preez, 23 Warrick Gelant

Wales

15 Hallam Amos, 14 Tom Prydie, 13 George North, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 Ellis Jenkins (c), 6 Seb Davies, 5 Cory Hill, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Dillon Lewis, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Nicky Smith

Substitutes: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Aaron Wainwright, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Rhys Patchell/Gareth Davies, 23 Hadleigh Parkes

Cape Town – Proteas coach Ottis Gibson hinted that the side could call-up Test opener Dean Elgar for the one-day squad and possibly the Cricket World Cup next year.

Gibson spoke to reporters on Monday to give some insight to the Proteas plans for the showcase event in England and Wales in 2019. 

READ: Ottis Gibson ‘shocked’ by AB retirement

Elgar, who has only played six ODIs for the Proteas thus far, has impressed this summer for Surrey.

Elgar has made seven appearances on his second stint at the club with three coming in the County Championship and four in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

So far, the Proteas opening batsman scored 402 runs across nine innings, at an average of 44.66.

On Sunday, Elgar fell 13 runs short of a century as his 87 helped to push Surrey to a six-wicket win over Essex.

Gibson suggested that with the sudden retirement of AB de Villiers, Elgar’s experience in England could be vital for next year’s all-important World Cup.

“One of the things I said earlier on was that when it comes to picking a team for a World Cup, we will pick guys that we believe can go and perform in those conditions,” said Gibson.

“Dean playing county cricket now puts himself in the picture obviously.

“When you look at his record playing white ball cricket, he is not out of the picture. But since I’ve been here, we haven’t looked at Dean (for the one day squad),” said the Proteas coach.

“But now with what’s happened with AB and you’re looking at experience in English conditions, someone like Dean – I would imagine – will come into the conversation.”

Gibson’s next assignment will be in July when the Proteas tour Sri Lanka to play two Tests, five ODIs and a solitary T20I.