Springboks forced into changes for Fiji clash

Sep 15 • International, Rugby World Cup News, RWC 2011, Springbok News, Springboks • 1873 Views • Comments Off on Springboks forced into changes for Fiji clash

The Springboks on Thursday made four changes to their starting line-up and two more on the bench when they named the team to meet Fiji in their Pool D Rugby World Cup 2011 match in Wellington on Saturday. Four of the six changes have been forced by injury.

Lock Victor Matfield (hamstring) and backs Butch James (hip flexor), Jean de Villiers (rib cartilage) and Bryan Habana (patella tendon) were all unavailable for selection due to injury. A fifth player, Johann Muller, will undergo a late fitness test on a tight hamstring. If he is unavailable he will be replaced on the bench by Francois Louw.

Matfield’s place is taken by the returning Bakkies Botha; Odwa Ndungane steps into the left wing berth in place of Habana; Pat Lambie starts at fullback with Francois Steyn moving forward to fill De Villiers’ inside centre berth and James’ place on the bench is taken by the versatile Ruan Pienaar who has appeared at scrumhalf, flyhalf and fullback for the Springboks.

In addition, Springbok coach Peter de Villiers made two tactical changes. Gurthrö Steenkamp was promoted to start at loosehead prop in place of Tendai Mtawarira (who drops to the bench) while the return to a conventional four/three split between forwards and backs among the replacements opens the way for Juan de Jongh to make a first appearance on a Rugby World Cup teamsheet.

De Villiers said Willem Alberts would act as a replacement lock if Muller failed to recover sufficiently.

“We have had injury problems at lock but we have versatile players to cover for most situations,” said De Villiers. “Danie Rossouw has now been picked to start at 4, 5, 7 and 8 this season and will call the lineouts this weekend.

“Willem Alberts is on the bench to cover four of the back five positions in the pack and we have a couple of scrumhalves on the bench who cover three other positions as well, so we are fortunate.

“Against a tough proposition like Fiji you’d prefer to have all your players available but this is tournament rugby and we picked our squad knowing that we would have to cover for many situations.”

The Springboks have played Fiji twice before, winning both games. In 1996 they recorded a 43-18 win in Pretoria before recording a momentarily tense, 37-20 victory over Fiji in the quarterfinals of the 2007 tournament.

Saturday’s match kicks off at 18h00 (08h00 SA time).

South Africa v Fiji, 17 September 2011, Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington

No

Player Province

Caps

15

Pat Lambie KwaZulu-Natal

7

14

JP Pietersen KwaZulu-Natal

39

13

Jaque Fourie Western Province

65

12

Frans Steyn Racing Metro, France

44

11

Odwa Ndungane KwaZulu-Natal

8

10

Morné Steyn Blue Bulls

30

9

Fourie du Preez Blue Bulls

58

8

Pierre Spies Blue Bulls

43

7

Schalk Burger Western Province

64

6

Heinrich Brüssow Free State Cheetahs

16

5

Danie Rossouw Blue Bulls

59

4

Bakkies Botha Blue Bulls

74

3

Jannie du Plessis KwaZulu-Natal

27

2

John Smit (captain) KwaZulu-Natal

107

1

Gurthrö Steenkamp Blue Bulls

34

Replacements

16

Bismarck du Plessis KwaZulu-Natal

39

17

Tendai Mtawarira KwaZulu-Natal

29

18

Johann Muller Ulster, N Ireland

24

19

Willem Alberts KwaZulu-Natal

5

20

Francois Hougaard Blue Bulls

11

21

Ruan Pienaar Ulster, N Ireland

49

22

Juan de Jongh Western Province

8

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