Springboks change three for Scotland

Nov 16 • International, World Rugby • 1370 Views • Comments Off on Springboks change three for Scotland

Spingbok emblemCoach Peter de Villiers on Tuesday made three changes to the Springbok starting XV and one positional switch for Saturday’s Test against Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.

Zane Kirchner, Francois Hougaard and Ryan Kankowski were all promoted to the starting line up while Gio Aplon moves from fullback to wing from the team that defeated Wales 29-25 in Cardiff on Saturday.

In addition hooker Adriaan Strauss and wing Lwazi Mvovo are involved in a match-day 22 for the first time on tour as they were drafted onto the bench.

Bjorn Basson’s injury and subsequent suspension made him unavailable for the right wing position and his place is taken by Gio Aplon, who moves from fullback. Aplon’s No 15 jersey is taken by Zane Kirchner who moves up from the bench.

Francois Hougaard is given the starting position at scrumhalf after his cameo performance from the bench on Saturday, while Ryan Kankowski comes straight into the starting XV at eighthman.

“We’ve got a talented squad and a long tour like this gives us an opportunity to try out a few options,” said Peter de Villiers.

“Francois Hougaard played well for us in the Vodacom Tri-Nations and did well when he came on on Saturday and brings a different style.

“Ryan is one of two talented eighthmen in the squad and we wanted to give him an opportunity to show us what he can do.”

The changes on the bench are caused by the departures of Basson and Chiliboy Ralepelle, who returned a positive test for a banned stimulant following the Test against Ireland on November 6.

Adriaan Strauss comes onto the bench as the replacement hooker and the uncapped Lwazi Mvovo takes the place of Kirchner as a backline replacement.

De Villiers added that the squad had now put the shock of the positive results behind them.

“There is a process in place in these cases and that is now being followed. As a squad we have moved on and are focusing only on Scotland.”

South Africa v Scotland

Murrayfield, Edinburgh, November 20 2010

Name Province

Age

Caps

15

Zane Kirchner Vodacom Blue Bulls

26

12

14

Gio Aplon Vodacom Western Province

28

11

13

Frans Steyn Racing Metro

23

40

12

Jean de Villiers Vodacom Western Province

29

65

11

Bryan Habana Vodacom Western Province

27

66

10

Morne Steyn Vodacom Blue Bulls

26

23

9

Francois Hougaard The Vodacom Blue Bulls

22

6

8

Ryan Kankowski The Sharks

25

16

7

Juan Smith Vodacom Cheetahs

29

67

6

Deon Stegmann Vodacom Blue Bulls

24

2

5

Victor Matfield (captain) Vodacom Blue Bulls

33

103

4

Bakkies Botha Vodacom Blue Bulls

31

70

3

Jannie du Plessis The Sharks

28

22

2

Bismarck du Plessis The Sharks

26

34

1

Tendai Mtawarira The Sharks

25

24

REPLACEMENTS

16

Adriaan Strauss Vodacom Cheetahs

24

7

17

CJ van der Linde Vodacom Cheetahs

30

67

18

Flip van der Merwe Vodacom Blue Bulls

25

8

19

Willem Alberts The Sharks

26

1

20

Ruan Pienaar Ulster, N Ireland

26

45

21

Patrick Lambie The Sharks

20

2

22

Lwazi Mvovo The Sharks

24

0

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