For the first time under the reign of Heyneke Meyer, the Springbok team has remained unchanged for consecutive matches.
This means a second starting cap for the young Johan Goosen and Jaco Taute, while Elton Jantjies is set to earn his second cap from the bench. Pat Lambie will earn yet another cap off the bench, as he continues to play second fiddle to Zane Kirchner, who has been cleared to play after picking up a knock in the Australia match.
The only change on the bench sees Coenie Oosthuizen being cleared to play, replacing Pat Cilliers as the front row cover for both Beast Mtawarira and Janie du Plessis. Coenie is a known loosehead, but has been playing on the tighthead side to cover a position which is low on backup in South Africa.
The Boks showed a massive improvement in beating Australia comprehensively last weekend, and will be keen to continue their momentum in beating the number one team in the world and newly crowned Rugby Championship winners, the All Blacks.
Springboks: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bryan Habana, 13Jaco Taute, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Beast Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Elton Jantjies, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Patrick Lambie
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No need to change a winning recipe.
Only Saturday’s result will tell us whether this team really is good enough, in front of 90000 supporters against the AB’s – no pressure.
You can’t really change a winning team can you. 🙄
Pity for Lambie that he can’t showcase his talents again but to be fair Krusty didn’t have a bad game last weekend.
Good, just hope Lambie gets more time, 20mins at least.
No fan of Zane but as we have no clear idea on Lambie’s form at the moment this is probably the best decision for both the Boks and Lambie.
@JarsonX (Comment 3) : I wouldn’t put it past the All Blacks to put in an early low tackle on Zane’s hip. 🙂
@vanmartin (Comment 4) : I think they may want him on the field- he kicks the ball to Israel Dagg very often which is great for them!
Ok so why doesn’t he just let Burden, Cilliers, CJ, Kruger, Botha, Mapoe, Mvovo ect play Currie Cup this week if his not going to use them.
@Mutley (Comment 6) : Because then he is helping the other teams to beat the bulls
So… In stead of playing somewhere else in South Africa, these guys are forced to sit in the stands in Soweto… Right, where’s the logic in that?
@TRF_Ezequiel (Comment 8) : Logic?? In South African rugby…come now dont be silly. haha
I agree with you 100% though.
Hahaha, thanks. It’s just ridiculous. Anyway, imagine what our team looks like when we face Griquas… That team will thrash them!
@SheldonK (Comment 9) : they need to carry tackle bags
coming to think of it – I am sure that some local schoolboys would love to be employed as tackle bags handlers for the afternoon.
@rekinek (Comment 11) : You stole the words out of my mouth 😛 Zane did nothing wrong on Saturday and Lambie did nothing to justify Zane being dropped. Fair selection there.
I would have liked Burden to be on the bench as Strauss and Liebenberg are too similar. Burden is explosive and would be a great impact combination with Pat Lambie, Elton Jantjies and Marcell Coetzee in the last 25 minutes. 😀
@ChrisS (Comment 13) : Coetzee replacing Alberts has been a pretty good impact player substitution the last few matches.
@rekinek (Comment 11) : Some school boys are built bigger than the Boks so we wouldnt want to hurt the Boks! But ya its madness to think guys have been called up to watch test rugby…it is quite a joke. Surely when the team is announced the rest should be released?