Coach Peter de Villiers and the selectors have made six changes, including two positional, to the Springbok starting XV that faced Italy last week for Saturday’s final test of 2009 at Croke Park in Dublin against Ireland.
The Official SA Rugby web site says the following:
In the front row, Tendai Mtawarira returns to the starting XV in place of Wian du Preez and BJ Botha starts at tighthead with captain John Smit moving to hooker in the place of Adriaan Strauss.
Victor Matfield returns to the starting XV, replacing Andries Bekker, Schalk Burger is back at flank with Danie Rossouw moving from the side of the scrum to number eight. There is one change to the backline with Wynand Olivier starting at 12 in place of the injured Adi Jacobs.
There are four more changes on the bench – hooker Bismarck du Plessis and prop CJ van der Linde return from injury, whilst Irish-based centre Jean de Villiers is recalled and flank Dewald Potgieter is included in the Test 22 for the first time.
Smit will equal Percy Montgomery’s record as the most capped Springbok against Ireland (six caps), while Jaque Fourie will equal Jean de Villers’ record as the most capped Springbok centre (43 Tests).
The Springbok team is: (test caps in brackets):
15 Zane Kirchner (3)
14 JP Pietersen (32)
13 Jaque Fourie (53)
12 Wynand Olivier (26)
11 Bryan Habana (56)
10 Morne Steyn (11)
9 Fourie du Preez (54)
8 Danie Rossouw (45)
7 Schalk Burger (54)
6 Heinrich Brüssow (12)
5 Victor Matfield (91)
4 Bakkies Botha (65)
3 BJ Botha (18)
2 John Smit (92) – captain
1 Tendai Mtawarira (21)
Reserves:
16 Bismarck du Plessis (31)
17 CJ van der Linde (57)
18 Andries Bekker (2)
19 Jean Deysel (1)
20 Dewald Potgieter (uncapped)
21 Ruan Pienaar (36)
22 Jean de Villiers (54)
@293 Treehugger – Yeah is a little devil isn’t he!!! hehehehe
Afternoon all.
#294 Irish
Huh? So, were talking about very small and fiery pieces of biltong, then? Some call them Chillibites here….
#295..define “hard time” Treehugger?..lol
Irish you in a good mood and full of blarney i think the word is.
Helloooooo Puma
239 – RP. That is the way to go. Always with the heart.
I just have to think about the AB/French game before I put in my superbru. Heart says ABs by 7 head says French by 3. So still have not put it in yet.
Hiya Puma..
Irish 278
Come now … don’t be wussy … it will destroy my illusions of the men of Eire 🙁
PUMA mate!!! Will bring the party to my apartment mate – oh dear my bedroom is my sitting room and kitchen and …. any donations can be deposited in …. hehehehe
301 – Irish i knew i mad a mistake right after i submitted that comment 🙂
305 – Hello Treehugs, What the weather like down there?
Treehugger 295
Well, I do what I can from afar 😉
Irish 299
TMI 😯
@308 RP – I’m a lover not a fighter
#281 and #282
Damn, I’m struggling to keep up here!
Nice one, Irish!
Polla, are you serious about that Gary OD story?
30 – Irish makes no difference how small your place is it makes for a better party though 😆
See on News 24 they calling this a “Mini World Cup” Not sure why. I thought it was just another test. Going to be a tough one and really looking forward to it.
Not sure if Bakkies will start. If he has niggle in that back he wont start. They will look after him (I think) we need him for next year and until the world cup.
The Irish players will be looking forward to playing Burger though 😉
Puma nippy and raining lightly today but will be hot again tomorrow
Treehugger – we only learn from our mistakes once we make them – Us Irish are perfect so don’t really understand – Bwahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Puma 306
ABs have so much to play for – if they do not win it will not be for a lack of heart 😀
317 – Treehugs. It sounds great. Like it a bit cooler. Up in my Joburg home and it is HOT, HOT here. Was only going to be here for 2 days but have been here for a week now. May go back tomorrow or early next week.
@313 RP – don’t you do the same after a few whiskeys. You Kiwi girls….hmmmm
Irish if i were you i would stay home and not go to a pub, it is unmanly to cry in public which is what is going to happen to a lot of irish men when we give you a huge snotty.
319 – RP, ABs never play with lack of heart. NEVER. Have to give them that. Think it will be a AB win. Good French side. Then who knows with all the changes they may not be settled to the one that beat us.
Think I will go with ABs. Still thinking about that one.
Irish 314
Uh huh … 🙄
Polla /Fender
Gary O’Driscoll sounds way TOO MUCH like Gary Glitter doncha think ?
318 – Irish 😆
#314..Yeah Fender…he wanted to be called GOD ..not BOD!…lol
Irish 321
I cannot abide the taste of whiskey or bourbon … I stick with the less abrasive nectars such as Jose Cuervo 😉
@316 Puma – I didn’t want to say this but we think we will be world champs if we down the Boks…silly I know…but my it does sound good. Irish World Champs…never heard that ever before.
Puma when you back down at your Durban home you should go visit the monkey feeding station and rescue station on the Golf estate you live on.
@322 Treehugger – 😆
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