Rassie Erasmus has been forced into making yet another late change for the clash against the Wallabies in Cape Town.

Willie le Roux was the first player to withdraw from the fixture, with the full-back sustaining a groin niggle earlier in the week and has been replaced in the starting XV by Aphelele Fassi.

Hours before kick-off, the Springboks announced another change with Jean-Luc du Preez being ruled out through illness.

It was set to be the back-rower’s first start for the Springboks in seven years, but he has been replaced in the run-on team by Kwagga Smith, who will start in the number eight jersey.

Smith’s elevation to the starting XV means that the Springboks now have a 5-3 split on the bench as Andre Esterhuizen is drafted in the loose forward’s place.

The remainder of the team remains unchanged, with Canan Moodie and Cheslin Kolbe joining Fassi in the back three, with Damian de Allende and captain Jesse Kriel in the centres.

Grant Williams and Handre Pollard combine in the half-backs while Smith is joined by Marco van Staden and Franco Mostert in the loose trio.

Ruan Nortje and RG Snyman are the starting locks with Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx and Ox Nche completing the tight-five.

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Updated teams

Springboks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel (c), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Lood de Jager, 21 Andre Esterhuizen, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Wallabies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Corey Toole, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight (c), 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Andrew Kellaway

Date: Saturday, August 23
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17:10 local time (01:10 AEST Sunday, 16:10 BST, 15:10 GMT)
Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Richard Kelly (RA)
FPRO: Tual Trainini (FFR)

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