Boks name team for RWC-opener against Wales
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The Springboks on Friday named the most experienced team in their history for the opening match of Rugby World Cup 2011 against Wales in Wellington on Sunday. The team contains a total of 815 caps – narrowly surpassing the 810 caps of the team that played Australia in Durban in August.
Coach Peter de Villiers recalled captain John Smit, loosehead prop Tendai Mtawarira, looseforward Schalk Burger, and fullback Frans Steyn while Danie Rossouw replaced Bakkies Botha – unavailable because of an Achilles heel condition – in the five changes to the team that defeated New Zealand 18-5 in Port Elizabeth last month.
De Villiers named five forwards on the bench with Bismarck du Plessis, Gurthrö Steenkamp and Willem Alberts dropping out of the starting line-up while Ulster-based lock Johann Muller could make his first appearance since the third test against the British & Irish Lions in 2009.
The 22 contains 16 players who were part of the victorious 2007 squad, with 11 in the starting 15.
South Africa v Wales, 11 September 2011, Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
15. Frans Steyn
14. JP Pietersen
13. Jaque Fourie
12. Jean de Villiers
11. Bryan Habana
10. Morne Steyn
9. Fourie du Preez
8. Pierre Spies
7. Schalk Burger
6. Heinrich Brussow
5. Victor Matfield
4. Danie Rossouw
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. John Smit (CAPT)
1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements:
16. Bismarck du Plessis
17. Gurthro Steenkamp
18. CJ van der Linde
19. Johann Muller
20. Willem Alberts
21. Francois Hougaard
22. Butch James
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