KEY POINTS:
LONDON - Hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle became the first black captain of South Africa today when he was named to lead the side against a World 15 in a non-test rugby fixture in Leicester on Monday.
The 20-year-old stands in for regular captain John Smit who returned to South Africa together with other leading players after the Saturday's 25-14 victory over England.
"Chiliboy will be making history and he deserves this honour," team manager Zola Yeye told a news conference.
Ralepelle has captained the under-21 side and had been widely tipped to become the first black captain of the Springboks.
He made his test debut as a late replacement against New Zealand in August and had a second cameo appearance at Twickenham on Saturday but this will be his first start in a Springbok match.
"It's a very great honour and a special moment for me," said Ralepelle. "It has always been my ambition to play for the Springboks and to captain them.
"But we have 22 players who are captains in their own positions so I don't feel any pressure."
Errol Tobias became the first black Springbok in 1981 but there had been only three by 1998 after which the South African Rugby Union's drive to transform the game gathered pace.
Ralepelle is now one of 33 black players to have played test rugby for the Springboks.
Yeye said that Ralepelle would give way to Gary Botha -- his provincial captain -- in the second half of Sunday's match.
Team:
15-Bevin Fortuin; 14-Jaco Pretorius, 13-Wynand Olivier, 12-De Wet Barry, 11-JP Pietersen; 10-Francois Steyn, 9-Ruan Pienaar; 8-Danie Rossouw, 7-Gerrie Britz, 6-Wikus van Heerden, 5-Albert van den Berg, 4-Johan Ackermann, 3-CJ van der Linde, 2-Chiliboy Ralepelle (captain), 1-Deon Carstens.
- REUTERS
