Joe Launchbury will make his first Test start as England make six changes for Saturday’s Test against South Africa. The lock, 21, replaces Wasps team-mate Tom Palmer, who drops out of the 23, as one of four changes to the pack.
bbc
Prop Alex Corbisiero starts in place of the injured Joe Marler, and Tom Wood and Ben Morgan come into the back row for Tom Johnson and Thomas Waldrom.
Ben Youngs is recalled at scrum-half, with Danny Care on the bench, while Mike Brown starts on the left wing. The Harlequins full-back takes over from Charlie Sharples, who was also dropped from the match-day squad.
Head coach Stuart Lancaster has decided sweeping changes are in order following England’s 20-14 defeat by Australia last weekend and in addition to the six changes to the starting XV, there are a further three on the bench.
Wasps flanker James Haskell, Saracens second-row Mouritz Botha and London Irish centre Jonathan Joseph are all among the replacements for the first time this season.
Waldrom and Johnson pay the price as England look to beef up their back row against the famously physical South Africans, with Wood earlier this week relishing the “man test” posed by South Africa. The 26-year-old is set to make his first start since last year’s World Cup after recovering from a persistent foot injury and will form the back row alongside captain Chris Robshaw and Morgan.
Gloucester number eight Morgan appears for the first time since the second Test against South Africa on the summer tour, while loose-head prop Corbisiero has not played for England since coming on as a replacement in the second Test against the Boks in June.
England team to face South Africa: 15 Alex Goode (Saracens, 4 caps), 14 Chris Ashton (Saracens, 27 caps), 13 Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 15 caps), 12 Brad Barritt (Saracens, 9 caps), 11 Mike Brown (Harlequins, 9 caps), 10 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers, 52 caps), 9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 26 caps), 8 Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby, 7 caps), 7 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt, 10 caps), 6 Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 11 caps), 5 Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers, 10 caps), 4 Joe Launchbury (London Wasps, 2 caps), 3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 33 caps), 2 Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps), 1 Alex Corbisiero (London Irish, 16 caps).
Replacements: 16 David Paice (London Irish, 4 caps), 17 David Wilson (Bath Rugby, 21 caps), 18 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 2 caps), 19 Mouritz Botha (Saracens, 9 caps), 20 James Haskell (London Wasps, 43 caps), 21 Danny Care (Harlequins, 35 caps), 22 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 10 caps), 23 Jonathan Joseph (London Irish, 3 caps).
This England side has some definate weaknesses… for starters an Average Good (pun intended) at fullback, defensive frailties around the No 10 channel… and altogether, man by man, the Springboks should have more ammo than England.
However, the ball is not round, the playing field is level and guts and passion will be required to come out on top.
Al hierdie s-e-x changes gaan julle niks help nie, julle bly ‘n klomp sussies, go Bokke !
As the Boks face England tomorrow how about a song from an English singer, wonder how many of you will know him, kinda folksy music, Seth Lakeman:
Another Seth Lakeman one, I really enjoy this one:
Right last Seth Lakeman one, cheers all:
See rain for the whole day is forecast for London tomorrow. Not sure if that is a good thing or not.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-ZHm28ppK0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s-XD7RD2a4
Got this from rugby365
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Smit boost for Boks
Fri, 23 Nov 2012 13:07
Pressure becomes a reward for all the hard work you’ve put
The most capped Springbok of all time, John Smit, delivered a strong message to the Springboks when he handed out the jerseys ahead of Saturday’s Test against England at Twickenham.
Smit, who led the Springboks a world record 83 times, currently plays for Saracens in London. He made his debut for South Africa in 2000 and played in his 111th and final Test in 2011.
Smit’s message to the Springboks on Friday was to embrace the pressure of playing at the top and to enjoy the opportunity they have of representing a great country like South Africa.
“People don’t understand what pressure does to you,” said Smit.
“Don’t pretend it’s not there – rather embrace it. When you see your knee jumping nervously, like mine used to do before Tests, you realise the privilege you have of pulling that green and gold jersey over your head and representing millions of South Africans.
“When you understand that, the pressure becomes a reward for all the hard work you’ve put in to get here and all the time you’ve missed out with your family and friends, just to be in this great position of representing your country.
“Pressure is like having butterflies in your stomach. The key for me was never to try and get rid of it, but rather to ensure they all fly in the same direction. That is what you get right when you win.”
Under Smit’s captaincy, the Springboks lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in 2007, won the Tri-Nations twice (2004 and 2009) and defeated the British & Irish Lions (2009).
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