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)
Puma
That poor little kitty you are busy defaming was blogging here earlier telling an ENTIRELY different story … saying how this enormous humanoid came bursting into the room then stopped suddenly letting go a curiously girlish squeal … See ? Two sides to every story !
@415 – No RP you making it what you want it to be. It is only a fragment of your imagination – to me it is pure pleasure – and oh – you are so welcome.
417 Princess – Sent it to some of the voldy blokes and they nearly had a fit, Grant said he nearly brought his breakfast up!!
All the girls I know thought it was FAB!!
Must be a male/female thing!! 😉
409 – Hugs, catch you later. Farrier will be late, they always are!!
418 – Irish – Getting your room ready now!! 🙂
@421 – Congratulations RP – I see you made it onto the hall of SHAME – oops fame…
Irish 422
I dunno … you talking about requiring training & blushing & all … next you will be expecting a Salary & Benefits 🙄
420 – Puma, have you considered that you may actually have had a lion on your desk!!
You are lucky to be alive!
Carol 423
Yep, none of the girls I shared it with complained … mostly they … kind of … purred 😉
@423 – love horseriding but do I have to support the Poms?
Who did Arg play recently and by how much did they lose. Just don’t remember.
Trying to do my Superbru picks now.
427 – RP Your ABs better not let me down. I have them on my Superbru by 3.
Puma
Poms & just.
426 – Carol, hahaha. No this is Joburg we don’t get wild animals walking about here like you do in other parts of the country. It was a cat but so damn huge. Never seen a cat that big. FAT is the word…..hehe. Must be overfed.
Puma 430
By 3 ? Not much of a show of faith but you want them to step up …
431 – RP Thanks RP. Just trying to work out them against Scotland. Think Oz would have beaten Scotland had they got their kicks over. So maybe against Arg. Mmmmmmmm. Think Scots may not get lucky again. My poor mates. Did feel really happy for them though. Might have to go with Arg there.
@425 RP – only Fringe Benefits – oh too kind benefits maybe…hehehehe
#432 Puma, I have a huge black cat. It’s not overfed or fat, it’s just big. It’s the same size as Rooikat! maybe slighly bigger and 3 times the size of my Jack Russel!…It doesn’t take crap from nobody!..specially not from the Jack Russel!..lol
Irish 435
See ? You are already making trouble & pushing boundaries & you have not even got the job yet ! 🙄
433 – RP, France are a good team. Just all the changes with them not sure how they will play. Good players though.
Just went with a careful prediction there. ABs could win by 9. Then so could France. Went with my heart. Always back ABs when they are not playing the Boks. Also support Scotland when they not playing Boks. Just think Arg could beat them. Not sure.
Puma – Wales v Argentina and it was Wales 33 Argentina 16!!
That cat was on steriods!!
Back from a delicous pub lunch, had a munchie basket with a cold Hansa.
Feeling sleepy now, my dog kept me up all night.
428 – Irish, you do not have to support the Poms, but you are not to be rude about Jonny Wilkinson within my earshot!!
I have a great new horse, bucks like a bronko…you can try that!! 😉
RP and Carol – arent we lucky to be living far from Africa – everything in Africa is bigger than the rest of the world! I would be too scared to venture out!
Carol………Steriods 😆 You never know but FAT and it could climb very well with that huge body…hehehe.
How you think Wales would go right now against Scotland? If they were to play.
@437 – RP – haven’t been strip searched yet – but will do my best.
Irish, you are quite chatty today. Do i sense some nerves taking over?
442 – Irish we have the weather and beaches too.
Irish 442
I loved Africa ! Had a sensational time 😀 Don’t be such a wet girls blouse now 😉
@440 Snoek – we call them bitches here in Ireland and they keep me up all night. Constant irritation mate – 😉
440 – Snoek your lunch sounded great.
Now for the cricket. Hope it is a good game.
436 Polla – 😐 Is this cat a hunter? Sounds dangerous!
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