No Change in Springbok Team for All Blacks Clash

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer on Wednesday named an unchanged starting XV to face New Zealand in the first Rugby World Cup semi-final, on Saturday at Twickenham in London.

The only change to the match-day squad is at replacement lock, where Victor Matfield has overcome his hamstring injury and takes over from Pieter-Steph du Toit, bringing even more experience to the bench.

It’s the first time since last November that Meyer has been able to name an unchanged team for back-to-back Tests and only the sixth time since his appointment in 2012.

“It’s great to be able to give another run to the team that got us through to the semi-finals in the biggest Test of the year,” said Meyer.

“Victor’s inclusion on the bench gives us even more experience there and, as we saw last weekend against Wales, when the replacements did very well towards the end of the match, this will be crucial. His influence will also be pivotal against a strong New Zealand line-out.”

Meyer said his team is braced for a massive onslaught on Saturday.

“We’re playing against the defending champions and the top-ranked side in the world, but the current New Zealand side can also be regarded as arguably one of the best Test teams ever,” said Meyer.

“Tests against New Zealand are very intense and the margins over the last couple of years have been small. We’re not expecting anything different this weekend and the self-belief is there.

“Everyone in our group is massively excited about Saturday’s challenge. For many players this will be an once-in-a-lifetime occasion and we want to go out there and make it count in front of what will be a magnificent crowd at a superb stadium.”

The referee for this semi-final will be Jérôme Garcès of France, who was also the referee for South Africa’s shock loss to Japan at the start of the RWC. It will be his seventh Test involving South Africa. Of the previous six Tests, South Africa won three and lost three.

The Springbok team to face New Zealand in London is:

Position/Name/Franchise or Club/Test Caps/Test points
15. Willie le Roux Toyota Cheetahs (32 caps, 45 points)
14. JP Pietersen Cell C Sharks (64 caps, 110 points)
13. Jesse Kriel Vodacom Bulls (9 caps, 15 points)
12. Damian De Allende DHL Stormers (11 caps, 5 points)
11. Bryan Habana Toulon (115 caps, 320 points)
10. Handré Pollard Vodacom Bulls (18 caps, 159 points)
9. Fourie du Preez (captain) Suntory (75 caps, 80 points)
8. Duane Vermeulen DHL Stormers (33 caps 10 points
7. Schalk Burger (vice-captain) DHL Stormers (84 caps, 80 points)
6. Francois Louw Bath (41 caps, 40 points)
5. Lood de Jager Toyota Cheetahs (17 caps, 20 points)
4. Eben Etzebeth DHL Stormers (42 caps, 5 points)
3. Frans Malherbe DHL Stormers (10 caps, 0 points)
2. Bismarck du Plessis Cell C Sharks (77 caps, 55 points)
1. Tendai Mtawarira Cell C Sharks (73 caps, 10 points)

Replacements:
16. Adriaan Strauss Vodacom Bulls (52 caps, 30 points)
17. Trevor Nyakane Vodacom Bulls (21 caps, 5 points)
18. Jannie du Plessis Cell C Sharks (68 caps, 5 points)
19. Victor Matfield Vodacom Bulls (125 caps, 35 points)
20. Willem Alberts Cell C Sharks (36 caps, 35 points)
21. Ruan Pienaar Ulster (87 caps, 135 points)
22. Pat Lambie Cell C Sharks (48 caps, 131 points)
23. Jan Serfontein Vodacom Bulls (24 caps, 10 points)

Source: SARugby.co.za

Spotting Springboks in the Park…

Almost better than spotting springboks on safari, South Africans abroad were excited yesterday to spot the Boks in a park in Surrey where they have been training. Bronwyn Hopper said – “What great guys!! They were so friendly!! Great ambassadors for our country. Good luck for Saturday boys!!”

If Bryan Habana scores a try on Saturday, he will surpass David Campese of Australia with whom he is currently tied in second place for most Test tries. First on the list is Daisuke Ohata of Japan on 69 career tries.

That one more try would also make him become sore record holder of most career tries. He is currently joint record holder (15) with Jonah Lomu of New Zealand.

Schalk Burger is SA’s most capped Springbok flank – this will be his 78th and 19th RWC Test.

Bismarck du Plessis is the Springbok record holder for most tries (11) in Tests as a hooker.

All photos on this page kindly supplied by BRONWYN HOPPER and GIA EDMONDS, taken after the Springboks’ training session in Surrey, England, yesterday.

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