Maiden starts beckon for Bok pair

Maiden Test starts for Warrick Gelant and Dan du Preez (right) might be on the cards when coach Allister Coetzee announces his final squad of the year today for this weekend’s Wales Test in Cardiff.

Gelant could be named at leftwing in the place of Courtnall Skosan, with both Du Preez and Uzair Cassiem in line to replace No 8 Duane Vermeulen.

If Gelant gets the nod, the struggling Skosan could either feature on the bench or Coetzee could give centre Lukhanyo Am a potential first cap.

Siya Kolisi will return in the place of Francois Louw who, like Vermeulen, was forced to return to his overseas club.

The only other change could be hooker where Malcolm Marx will return after his shoulder injury.

Coetzee could name two flankers in either Cassiem or Du Preez and Oupa Mohoje on the bench after lock Franco Mostert also had to return to Japan. Pieter-Steph du Toit’s ability to switch from flank to lock might prevent Sharks lock Ruan Botha from earning a potential first cap from the bench.

Kolisi said he is fired up after missing the Italy Test last week and called on the side “empty their tanks” in 2017’s last Test.

“I’m very hungry and looking forward to the game which will offer a different challenge,” said Kolisi. “I was fortunate to watch the Welsh game against New Zealand last weekend and they are a team that keep coming at you at all the time.”