South Africa will start seven uncapped players against Wales on Saturday at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C., but that doesn't mean those players are inexperienced or lack ability.

Here's a look at each newcomer to South Africa's lineup and how he earned the right to wear a Springboks jersey.

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Saturday, June 2 | 5 PM EDT

Travis Ismaiel

Travis Ismaiel is a massive, hard-running wing for the Bulls in Super Rugby. The 25-year-old is on the Springboks to knock a few defenders down and finish in traffic. He can do that.

Makazole Mapimpi

Like Ismaiel, Makazole Mapimpi is a big unit on the wing and combines speed and strength. Perhaps a shade more elusive than Ismaiel, the 27-year-old Sharks player has shown a high work rate and an ability to make things happen all over the field.

Andre Esterhuizen

Esterhuizen is a bit of a rough-and-tumble back who can play center or fullback. After a stint with Japan’s Top League for Munakata Saint Blues, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound is back in South Africa with the Bulls and has expanded his game. Now a better distributor and not just a crash-it-up player, the 24-year-old is poised to be one of the Springboks' centers of the future.

Ivan van Zyl

A scrappy, opportunistic 22-year-old scrumhalf, Ivan van Zyl hasn’t been playing for the Bulls in Super Rugby for long. He’s also had to deal with injury, too. However, he is a smart player and a very good kicker who can turn a defense around quickly.

Kwagga Smith

An established Blitzbokke sevens player, flanker Kwagga Smith passed up a spot on the Commonwealth Games sevens team to concentrate on 15s and becoming a Springbok. It worked. He’s active, an excellent tackler, and very good at stealing the ball in the ruck. 

Jason Jenkins

A massive second-row forward, Jenkins is 6-7, 270 pounds and poised to be a Springbok for a long time if he keeps up this form. South Africa needs power in the second row to win the set piece, and this will be the first chance for Jenkins to show he can do that.

At 22, he is still pretty seasoned, having played at the age-grades and in Japan as well as Super Rugby. With a young team, he's got to nail down his role at lock.

Ox Nche

His real first name is Retshegofaditswe, but Ox fits this Cheetahs prop quite nicely as a moniker. Only 5-8, he packs 245 pounds onto that frame, and his selection is a nod to the fact that when Celtic nations do well against South Africa, it is often by countering size with strength and winning the angles in the front row. Smaller props can beat bigger props with better technique and thick necks. Nche has both.

He can also do this.

So forget the haters who say this is a depleted South Africa side. Instead, say you were there when one of tomorrow's stars got his first big break. 

It's safe to predict you'll hear more about Nche, Jenkins, and Esterhuizen in the future. 

Live coverage of South Africa vs. Wales begins at 5 PM EDT on Saturday, June 2. Sign up for PRO to watch on FloRugby.