The Springbok team that will face New Zealand in the fourth Test in The Rugby Championship in Dunedin on Saturday shows two changes from the side that played Australia last weekend.
Both changes are in the forwards, where lock Flip van der Merwe replaces the suspended Eben Etzebeth while Francois Louw comes in for Marcell Coetzee at flank.
There are four more changes on the bench, where Coetzee joins Dean Greyling, Andries Bekker and Juan de Jongh amongst the replacements.
“The New Zealanders are good on the ground which is why we decided to go for a specialist openside flank in Francois,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
“Marcell has been very good this season and has played a lot of rugby, but in this match we feel he will be more useful as an impact option.”
Jannie du Plessis has been named at tighthead prop despite struggling with a hamstring niggle. Meyer said the Springboks’ medical team is working very hard on the injured players and that Du Plessis will be given until Friday to fully shake off his injury, but if he fails to recover in time, Pat Cilliers will start in the No 3-shirt.
“We will not take any chances with injured players and we have time to get him and Pat (Cilliers) match ready,” said Meyer.
Greyling will be on the bench to provide prop cover, while Bekker takes over from Van der Merwe in the No 18 shirt. De Jongh comes in for Lwazi Mvovo on the bench.
The Springboks’ starting XV have a combined total of 482 Test caps – 136 in the forwards and 346 in the backline.
The Springbok team to face New Zealand in Dunedin is (Test caps in brackets):
15. Zane Kirchner, Vodacom Blue Bulls (18)
14. Bryan Habana, DHL Western Province (80)
13. Jean de Villiers (captain), DHL Western Province (78)
12. Frans Steyn, The Sharks (52)
11. Francois Hougaard, Vodacom Blue Bulls (21)
10. Morné Steyn, Vodacom Blue Bulls (40)
9. Ruan Pienaar, Ulster, N-Ireland (57)
8. Duane Vermeulen, DHL Western Province (1)
7. Willem Alberts, The Sharks (14)
6. Francois Louw, Bath, England (11)
5. Juandré Kruger, Vodacom Blue Bulls (4)
4. Flip van der Merwe, Vodacom Blue Bulls (17)
3. Jannie du Plessis, The Sharks (36)
2. Adriaan Strauss (vice-captain), Toyota FS Cheetahs (15)
1. Tendai Mtawarira, The Sharks (38)
Replacements:
16. Tiaan Liebenberg, DHL Western Province (2)
17. Dean Greyling, Vodacom Blue Bulls (2)
18. Andries Bekker, DHL Western Province (26)
19. Marcell Coetzee, The Sharks (6)
20. Johan Goosen, Toyota FS Cheetahs (1)
21. Juan de Jongh, DHL Western Province (10)
22. Pat Lambie, The Sharks (14)
Stats and facts:
- Saturday’s Test will be the 84th between South Africa and New Zealand.
- The Springboks and New Zealand last met in the 2011 Castle Tri-Nations in Port Elizabeth, which was won by South Africa 18-5.
- The Springboks have played eight Test matches against New Zealand in Dunedin, winning only once – at Carisbrook in 2008 (30-28). This will be the first Test for the Springboks at the newly-built Forsyth Barr Stadium.
- With 39 Tests, Morné Steyn is the most capped Springbok flyhalf. He also holds the record for the most career tries in Tests as a flyhalf (7 tries) and is the Springbok record holder for most career points in this tournament (229 points).
- Steyn’s 56 penalty goals are the most by a Springbok in this tournament and he shares the overall record for most career drop goals in the tournament with André Pretorius (4). He needs 17 points to reach 500 career Test points for the Springboks.
- Steyn has scored 109 Test points for the Springboks against New Zealand – the most by any South African. He also holds the record for the most career penalty goals by a Springbok against New Zealand – 28.
- Bryan Habana, who will play in his 30th Test in this competition, is the most-capped Springbok wing (79 Tests) and the South African record holder for the most Test tries, which he extended last weekend against Australia to 42. Bryan needs one try to become South Africa’s top try scorer in the tournament.
- The referee is George Clancy from Ireland, who has refereed in five Tests involving South Africa. The Springboks have won four of those Tests and lost one.
- Springbok Test match records in Dunedin against New Zealand:
- Most points: 12 by Percy Montgomery (3c, 2p) in 2005.
- Most tries: 1 by eight players on nine occasions. Ricky January scored a try on two occasions, his last in the 75th minute of the match in 2008 which enabled the Boks to win their first test in 87 years at Carisbrook.
- Most conversions: 3 by Percy Montgomery in 2005.
- Most penalty goals: 3 by each of André Joubert in 1994 and Percy Montgomery in 2008.
- Most drop goals: 1 by Butch James in 2009
…..On the subject, another – one of my favourites, perhaps a little rude to put up here, so follow the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13QAPq0236Y
I think it’s raining in Birmingham, so could have another washed out T20. pity, could have done with a bit of cricket this evening.
All Blacks team – Piri Weepu is the only change to the backline but Hansen made three changes in the pack, with Sam Whitelock replacing Brodie Retallick at lock, Liam Messam coming on to the blindside of the scrum for Victor Vito while hooker Andrew Hore replaces Keven Mealamu.
Retallick, Vito and Mealamu all drop to the bench for the match at Otago Stadium. Tamati Ellison also comes onto the bench in place of Ben Smith
15-Israel Dagg, 14-Cory Jane, 13-Conrad Smith, 12-Ma’a Nonu, 11-Julian Savea, 10-Aaron Cruden, 9-Piri Weepu, 8-Kieran Read,7-Richie McCaw (captain), 6-Liam Messam,5-Sam Whitelock, 4-Luke Romano, 3-Owen Franks, 2-Andrew Hore, 1-Tony Woodcock
16-Keven Mealamu, 17-Charlie Faumuina, 18-Brodie Retallick, 19-Victor Vito, 20-Aaron Smith, 21-Beauden Barrett, 22-Tamati Ellison
From Rugby 365:
It’s supposed to be the greatest rivalry in rugby, but very few pundits are backing the Springboks to beat the All Blacks in Dunedin on Saturday.
Most expect the hosts to show Heyneke Meyer and co. why ‘total rugby’, when executed correctly, will always be superior to the one-dimensional style to which the Boks insist on confining themselves.
The Springboks’ stubbornness in sticking to what they believe is a tried-and-tested formula, and by extension their selection policy, has been the greeted by wide-spread frustration not only in the Republic, but around the world as fans beg to see the Boks use some of the attacking talents at their disposal.
Earlier this week we ran a poll asking who you would pick at 10 and 15 for the Boks. Of the eight options provided, Meyer’s preferred combination ranked… a distant seventh.
Less than four percent of the fans who voted reckon that Morne Steyn and Zane Kirchner are the right men for the job. Overwhelming our readers feel that either Johan Goosen or Pat Lambie, or a combination of the two, should be South Africa’s playmakers.
It’s easy to criticism Steyn’s lack of invention, but he is only doing what he is told, and to be fair to Meyer, if South Africa are going to persist with employing their current tactic (and I use the singular form intentionally, because it’s abundantly clear there is no ‘plan B’) then Steyn IS the best choice.
And judging by some comments from the Bulls fly-half this week, the Boks have no intention of changing the approach that brought them their last Tri-Nations title, back in 2009.
“We’ve won a Tri-Nations with the same game-plan and in 2007 we won the World Cup with these tactics. We have to stay with this strategy,” he said.
Eh?
So, it worked against equally one-dimensional Argentina and England at a World Cup five years ago so it can’t be wrong?
True, the hit-’em-hard-and-kick-it-high approach bore fruit in 2009 when Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu, who were hopelessly out of form at the time, were found wanting under the high ball, but to simply expect the current crop of Kiwis to wilt under pressure in the same fashion is more than naive, it’s just plain foolish.
Every defensive coach in world rugby has seen it all before and has had years and years to come up with the necessary solutions.
But the more we shout, the more the siege mentality in the Bok camp is entrenched. Meyer says he doesn’t care that his team has been written off, that he’s used to being criticised and has instead highlighted the fact that he is leading an inexperienced team in country where the Boks have not enjoyed much success.
Sure, you can’t replace the players he’s lost overnight, but surely that is all the more reason to build a new strategy around the next generation of talents at his disposal?
The furore over the Boks living in denial has gone a long way to overshadow the fact that the All Blacks were given an almighty scar by Argentina last week.
As much as that result is a reflection of just how good the Pumas are, if the truth be told, the Kiwis weren’t at their best and their error count was uncharacteristically high. Some calm heads from experienced players saw them home though as their approach to the game ultimately proved the same point we expect it will again this weekend: If you keep moving the ball, gaps will eventually open up. Compare that to the Boks’ inability to put the Pumas away in both Cape Town and Mendoza.
While this will be South Africa’s first visit to Forsyth Barr Stadium, the Springboks last visit to the deep south and the now defunct ‘House of Pain’ (Carisbrook) in 2008 resulted in victory. But don’t read too much into that, the Boks have won just three times in New Zealand in the professional era.
Some pundits have suggested that this game might be a crossroads for South Africa, arguing that if they get hammered, they’ll be forced to rethink their strategy.
But there are too many class players in the visitors’ side for this to turn into a massacre. If South Africa come anywhere near winning, the coaching staff will see it as vindication of their outdated thinking and we’ll be back to square one. In that case, the real losers will be everyone who wants to see exciting rugby.
Players to watch:
For New Zealand: Officially, Piri Weepu has been handed back the number nine shirt because Aaron Smith was a naughty boy and staying out too late but it would not have been a huge surprise if the World Cup winner had been bumped up from the bench anyway. After a poor Super Rugby season, Mr Fixit has looked much better in a Black jersey (not least because he has lost 10kg) and was a steadying influence when the Kiwis needed calm heads in Wellington. With the hosts looking to play at a high tempo on a dry track, Weepu will be keen to show he can keep up with the pace and regain a regular starting berth. Axed from the team last week for simply not being good enough, Sam Whitelock returns this weekend with a point to prove – South Africa’s line-out will provide a real test of his skills.
For South Africa: With a grand total of one Premiership game for Bath and 23 minutes against Australia under his belt, Francois Lous has been brought into the Bok starting XV with the specific task of beating Richie McCaw on the ground. No pressure, then. Whilst Flo’s inclusion has been welcomed by many as a step in the right direction, the fact that it comes at the expense of Marcell Coetzee – South Africa’s best player this year and their only forward with any pace – has only heaped even more pressure onto Louw’s shoulders. How many Test tries would Bryan Habana have score if he was born in New Zealand? Despite being starved of opportunities to gallop in space, he always finds a way to get involved.
Head-to-head: Incredibly, there are just three players in the All Blacks starting team this weekend that were also in the run-on side when they last played the Springboks, in Port Elizabeth last August. One of them, Israel Dagg must be licking his lips at the prospect of being kicked at by Zane Kirchner. If the SA back three get it even slightly wrong, they’ll be punished. The equation is simple: give the Dagg, Jane and Savea ammunition and you’ll get shot.
Previous results:
2011: South Africa won 18-5 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
2011: New Zealand won 40-7 at Westpac Stadium, Wellington
2010: New Zealand won 29-22 at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
2010: New Zealand won 31-17 at Westpac Stadium, Wellington
2010: New Zealand won 32-12 at Eden Park, Auckland
2009: South Africa won 32-29 at Rugby Park, Hamilton
2009: South Africa won 31-19 at Absa Stadium, Durban
2009: South Africa won 28-19 at Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
2008: New Zealand won 19-0 at Newlands
2008: South Africa won 30-28 at Carisbrook, Dunedin
2008: New Zealand won 19-8 at Westpac Stadium, Wellington
2007: New Zealand won 33-6 at Jade Stadium, Christchurch
2007: New Zealand won 26-21 at Absa Stadium, Durban
2006: South Africa won 21-20 at Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg
2006: New Zealand won 45-26 at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Prediction: I honestly hope the Boks prove me wrong and provide us with a spectacle worth watching but on current form, I can only see a home victory. Heyneke Meyer’s walkie-talkie to take a beating and New Zealand to win by 14 points.
Rugby Union betting odds
The teams:
New Zealand:15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock
Replacements:16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Brodie Retallick, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Aaron Smith, 21 Beauden Barrett, 22 Tamati Ellison
South Africa:15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jean de Villiers (c), 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Dean Greyling, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Johan Goosen, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Pat Lambie.
Date: Saturday, September 15
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 19:35 (08:35 BST, 07:35 GMT, 09:35 SAST)
Weather:Who cares? The stadium has a roof.
Referee: George Clancy (IRE)
By Ross Hastie
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