Same again for Boks
Oct 03,2012
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has named an unchanged starting line-up for Saturday's Rugby Championship finale against New Zealand.
It's the first time this season that the Springboks will field an unchanged starting team for consecutive Tests.
The team is the same as the one that beat Australia by 31-8 in Pretoria last weekend.
The only change is on the bench, where Coenie Oosthuizen takes over from Pat Cilliers as prop replacement.
The last time the Springboks started two consecutive Tests with the same starting XV, was in 2009 in the home victories over New Zealand (31-19 in Durban on August 1) and Australia (29-17 in Cape Town on August 8).
"It's always a good thing if you don't have to make any changes and after the late replacements we had to call in last week, it's especially nice to be able to select an unchanged starting team for Saturday's Test," said Meyer.
"We've been hit hard by injuries this year, but thanks to the great work done by our medical team, we've managed to sort out a few of the little niggles left over from the Wallaby match for our final Test on home soil this year.
"Last week's win was very satisfying, but we all know we will have to make another step up against New Zealand on Saturday. They recorded a good win in Argentina and will be confident, but so are we."
The Springboks' starting XV has a combined total of 430 Test caps - 162 to the forwards and 268 to the backs.
South Africa: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Elton Jantjies, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Pat Lambie.
Date: Saturday , October 6
Venue: Soccer City, Soweto
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Greg Garner (England)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Comments (5)
Oct 03, 2012 at 16:20:23
I have a very good feeling about this game.
For some reason I think we are going to embarrass the ABs in Soweto.
I really hope I'm right.
Boke by 20+
GO Boys!!!
Oct 03, 2012 at 16:48:23
I dont think so Frik- I sincerely want the Bokke to win but embarress the ABs? I cant see that. They are the form team and they play hard for 80 minutes. Only if Rassie is the coach can you expect to see proper running
rugby played. Maybe he can influance HM some. Good luck guys! Bokke by 3???????
Oct 05, 2012 at 09:33:08
BIG test match. Sure wont account for RC points or change any IRB rankings but it will be a true initiation for a few new Springboks into the world of test level at the highest level. Either be a great game to remember or one they will try and forget.
All Blacks know there's 5 players 21 or under there 707 to boks 430 test caps will be a huge advantage, a win this weekend gives McCaw his 100th test win. Boks come off a easy win over Wallabies and are confident. All Blacks are just as confident, Springboks have home ground advantage and that is never underestimated by AB teams.statistics are always close between two nations and can come down to bounce of the ball the ref in these encounters.
IMO all blacks will pull it off threw experience who can take advantage of bok youth, AB forwards must subdue BOK pack in first 20 min to take control of mauls and break downs and unload backs to test springboksdefensive.organization and structure.
Oct 03, 2012 at 13:54:41
Fair enough!
Quick question: Is Shaun Veldsman like a specialist TMO? Its all he ever does.
Oct 04, 2012 at 00:43:52
Also wondered about that.
As for the Bok side...
Still not conVinced about Zane. 1 good performance isn't wnough to convince me that he has what it takes....
All this while Lambo sits on the bench.
And please..... Flip is the worst springbok lock since 1992! Why is he there and not Elstadt or van der Merwe or even Sykes!!