News
Second-string Boks for Jo'burg
July 02 2009
South Africa have named a second-string side for Saturday's third Test against the British & Irish Lions in Johannesburg.
With the 2009 series having been wrapped up at Loftus Versfeld last weekend, coach Peter de Villiers has opted to give his fringe players an opportunity ahead of the upcoming Tri-Nations.
In comes debutant Zane Kirchner (full-back), Odwa Ndungane (wing), Jaque Fourie (centre), Wynand Olivier (centre), Jongi Nokwe (wing) and Morné Steyn (fly-half) to the back-line behind Ryan Kankowski (number eight), Johann Muller (lock) and Chiliboy Ralepelle (hooker).
Olivier, the form South African centre in the recent Super 14, gets to play his first game at inside centre since the World Cup year, with Jean de Villiers taking a break this week.
The combinations from scrum-half to outside centre, are where this team looks stronger than the one that won in Durban and Pretoria.
Steyn was the most consistent local fly-half in the Super 14 and he is being reunited with his Super 14 halfback partner Fourie du Preez, and Olivier, who slots in on the outside of Steyn, is also a Bulls player.
"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to play against the Lions and we respect them so much, we wanted to give all our players a chance to take them on," said Bok coach De Villiers.
"We believe they are as good as the other guys and they can go out and do an outstanding job for the Springboks.
"They will also bring fresh energy to the team after two tough Tests and hopefully give us the quick ball the backs will need. We have, after all, proved we are capable of scoring tries from first phase."
Uncapped Sharks lock Steven Sykes has been included on the bench for the test.
This follows the unsuccessful appeal on Thursday morning by Springbok lock Bakkies Botha to have two-week suspension for dangerous play set aside.
Reflecting on the loss of Botha and some of the other players selected in his forward-line, De Villiers backed the likes of Sykes who made an impression with the Emerging Boks in Cape Town.
"I'm still trying get over the disappointment of Bakkies but Steven Sykes is the man to replace him," he said.
"Chiliboy is an outstanding rugby player. If he didn't have a serious injury a few years ago then he would have been out of sight he would have improved so much."
Bismarck du Plessis, Pierre Spies, Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn all drop down to the bench, which also includes Gurthrö Steenkamp, who comes back onto the bench after missing the second Test.
Deon Carstens retains his place amongst the reserves.
"This is a very strong side. At the end of the Super 14, I wanted to have 28 players who could play for the Springboks at any time and I think we've achieved that goal," said De Villiers.
"I'm very happy with this selection."
De Villiers admitted that he changed his mind "five times this week" and that if the team was not now committed to paper he might well have changed his mind again.
Considering his reasoning for making the changes, the surprising significant absentee from the squad for this game is Earl Rose, who has now gone on a Bok tour under De Villiers and been part of the squad for an entire Lions series without yet even getting a place on the bench.
"I have a long term plan with Earl Rose, I have achieved what I wanted to with him. With him, it is a long term plan," explained De Villiers.
As for his starting back-line, he said the Lions will have their hands full playing against the team he and the Bok management have chosen.
"I get goose bumps when I think about that back three and with a finisher like Jongi Nokwe, if you blink you won't see him," added De Villiers.
"If Jaque Fourie and Wynand Olivier can make the space, then they will know his number. If you look at the side, and take it player by player, who would have to ask 'Where did we weaken the side?'"
South Africa: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Johann Muller, 3 John Smit, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Guthro Steenkamp, 18 Dean Carstens, 19 Steven Sykes, 20 Pierre Spies, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Frans Steyn.
Date: Saturday, July 4
Kick-off: 15:00 (14:00 BST)
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Assistant referee: Christophe Berdos (France), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Television match official: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assessor: Tappe Henning
Timekeeper: Gabriel Pappa
By Dave Morris in Johannesburg