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Springbok coach Peter de Villiers on Thursday made two personnel changes and one positional switch in his match XV when he named his team to meet England at Twickenham in South Africa’s third and final end-of-year International. There were also two changes on the bench.
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Tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis came into the front row in place of his injured brother Bismarck, with John Smit moving inside to hooker. There was also a change in the back row where Danie Rossouw is promoted from the bench to replace Juan Smith who took a blow to the head against Scotland and has not fully recovered.
The back division is unchanged – with Fourie du Preez still not fully recovered from a quadriceps injury – while there were two changes on the bench.
Flanker Heinrich Brussow could make his Test debut if he is called into action while Chiliboy Ralepelle covers for John Smit. They replace Rossouw and the injured Gurthro Steenkamp.
Team v England
(Test caps in brackets)
1. Beast Mtawarira (9)
2. John Smit (capt) (80)
3. Jannie du Plessis (6)
4. Bakkies Botha (54)
5. Victor Matfield (79)
6. Schalk Burger (48)
7. Danie Rossouw (35)
8. Pierre Spies (18)
9. Ricky Januarie (33)
10. Ruan Pienaar (26)
11. Bryan Habana (45)
12. Jean de Villiers (45)
13. Adi Jacobs (20)
14. JP Pietersen (23)
15. Conrad Jantjes (23)
Reserves:
16. Chiliboy Ralepelle (2)
17. Brian Mujati (11)
18. Andries Bekker (12)
19. Ryan Kankowski (6)
20. Heinrich Brussow (-)
21. Frans Steyn (26)
22. Jaque Fourie (35)
Notes:
· The match will be the 31st test between South Africa and England since 1906. South Africa have won 17, England 12 and 1 match has been drawn in their 30 meetings to date.
# Nine of the match 22 played in the previous meeting between the two countries – the World Cup final in Paris in October 2007.
# John Smit needs one try to join Bismarck du Plessis and James Dalton for the most tries in Tests as a hooker. The record stands at five.
# Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha will extend their record as a lock combination in the starting line-up to 44
# Schalk Burger needs one try to become the sole record holder for most tries as a flank (Current record is nine shared with Andre Venter and Juan Smith).
The loose trio is now more out of balance than before. I predict we gonna get murdered at the breakdown
@Pokkel (Comment 1) : Unless it’s niceand wet and Pakslae uses his size for advantage. Rob, what is the weather prediction for the weekend
9. Ricky Januaries (33)
He is not so tubby that he is plural… is he?
@Pokkel (Comment 2) : BLOODY cold. Not sure about rain…
@beez (Comment 3) : Quality
Dont know if it is a good sign but the first Bok team in 1906 had a de Villiers in 12, just like jean in 2008 and both were Paarl Gimmies!
Here is the 1906 teams. I add the WeePee lots schools in
Teams
England: EJ Jackett, FG Brooks, JGG Birkett, HE Shewring, T Simpson, AD Stoop, RA Jago, WA Mills, TS Kelly, R Dibble, BA Hill, J Green, A Alcock, CH Shaw, VH Cartwright (captain).
South Africa: SJ Joubert (Paarl Gim), JA Loubser (Paul Roos), HA de Villiers (Paarl Gim), SC de Melker, AFW Marsberg, DC Jackson (Bishops), FJ Dobbin, PA le Roux, WS Morkel, DJ Brink (Paul Roos), JWE Raaff, DFT Morkel, PJ Roos (captain)(Paul Roos), HJ Daneel(Paul Roos), WA Millar (Sacs).
On second thoughts it may produce a bit of history for Puke to kots on. A Dutchman de Villiers when the Bokke play the first test under the Bok emblem and just maybe one in the last one under the Bok emblem.
Sorry just a thought and cant help myself
@PaarlBok (Comment 6) : Interesting…but we dont really need superstitions, do we? Ag, its on England… :spits over shoulder 3 times:
@blckshrk – BOKKE (Comment 8) : Well the draw that test 3 all and hopefull we will bash them this time.
My loose trio would have been:
6. Burger
7. Spies
8. Kankowski
According to the met office the temp at 3pm on Sat will be 1 degree. But with the wind chill factor it will feel like minus 7.
@blckshrk – BOKKE (Comment 12) : Will have to dig out the thermal underwear for Sat.
@blckshrk – BOKKE (Comment 14) : They really deserve their test status.
Great front row, I think.
@McLovin (Comment 11) : my goodness. Hope the guys have nice thermal skins and gloves to play in
@Superwors (Comment 16) : we’re not going to go backwards, that’s for sure. In fact, it’s a pretty damn good pack with some exciting bench options
@robdylan (Comment 18) : Yep, I think the only major factor that could see us losing this is giving away silly penalties. We should have enough fire power to take this.
And Sheridan is out of the match 22.
Not a bad side, but I fear a very high penalty count.
Ryan, hang in there lad; surely you must get a shot some day.
@Superwors (Comment 19) : hope so. Like you say, the voories had better figure out what not to do at the breakdown – and fast.
Less meaningless up-and-unders from Jantjes and his mates will also help.
BTW – I’m in Reading from 9-11 December…
@Superwors (Comment 20) : is he? Great news, although less significant given that we’ve picked such a strong scrummaging pack. I have no concerns about the Jannie-Bakkies-Pakslae triangle…
@robdylan (Comment 22) : Excellent, are you staying in Reading? Crowne Plaza is a good one. Then we can hit the pubs in the area.
@robdylan (Comment 23) : Ja, check BBC.
@Superwors (Comment 24) : I’ll probably book the Malmaison. It’s awesome!
@robdylan (Comment 26) : Central too. I’ll get the social director to check the calendar and get a beer pass.
@Charlie (Comment 10) :
Seems a better mix too…but I think PdV is going for some extra grunt at the breakdown….
What the heck is Brian “Electrolux” Mujati still doing there…
@Superwors (Comment 27) : ok, scratch that. I am at the Crowne Plaza. Malmaison and Novotel are both full
@Hmmm (Comment 29) : hey – CJ van der Linde is apparently on standby just in case “Backwards” Mujati doesn’t recover from his shoulder problem in time.
@robdylan (Comment 30) :
We can only hope…