One Change to Springboks’ Starting Line-Up for RWC Quarter-Final

The experienced JP Pietersen is back in the Springboks’ starting line-up for their Rugby World Cup (RWC) quarter-final against Wales at Twickenham in London on Saturday afternoon.

Pietersen – who scored a hat-trick against Samoa in the second pool match – is included in the only change to the starting team that beat the USA by 64-0 in the Boks’ final Pool B match, last Wednesday at the Olympic Stadium.

The 63-capped wing, who has recovered from a knee injury which kept him out of the USA Test, will wear the No 14 jersey and Bryan Habana will revert to the left-wing for this encounter.

It will be the 42nd time they play together as a wing-combination in the Springboks’ starting team.

Habana currently leads the try-scoring stakes at the World Cup with five, while Pietersen is joint second with four, a position he shares with five other players.

“JP and Bryan have been in superb form and are playing some of the best rugby of their lives,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.

“They have been scoring some wonderful tries, as has Lwazi Mvovo, so it’s really great to know that there is good competition among the wings.

“It made sense to reunite Bryan and JP on the wing as it brings a lot of experience to our backline, which has been doing well despite the relative inexperience of Handré Pollard, Damian De Allende and Jesse Kriel.”

The Springbok bench shows four changes from the last match. The experienced quartet of Adriaan Strauss, Jannie du Plessis, Ruan Pienaar and Pat Lambie are all back to give the South Africans a boost from the replacements’ bench.

With a combined total of 252 caps between the four of them, these players should be able to make an impact later in the game.

“We’ve seen first-hand how important it is to have experienced players on the field at the end of a match and to have this kind of experience available on the bench in a knock-out match is great,” said Meyer.

“Saturday’s match will be huge and we are expecting an arm wrestle right until the end. We’re playing against a well-balanced side that always likes to mix things up when it comes to physicality.

“They have a good set-piece and some strong ball carriers upfront and in the back – it’s what you expect to face at this stage of the competition and we’re very excited about the challenge.”

The only player who was not considered because of injury is Victor Matfield, who felt some discomfort in his hamstring at training on Tuesday. (Matfield and Habana met the Queen a couple of nights ago at a special RWC function at Buckingham Palace.)

“We were planning to use Victor from the bench to add even more experience to our replacements, but we’re also not prepared to risk him if he’s not ready. Luckily in Pieter-Steph du Toit we have another young player who has been performing very well and will slot in with ease,” said Meyer.

If Bryan scores a try on Saturday he will become sole record holder of most career tries in RWC tournaments. He became joint record holder (15 tries) with New Zealand’s Jonah Lomu last week.

Another try by Bryan will also extend his own record of 64 Test tries for South Africa. Currently he is joint second on the list for most Test tries. David Campese of Australia is the other player. First on the list is Daisuke Ohata of Japan on 69 career tries.

Twickenham is the largest dedicated rugby union venue in the world. Kick-off is 5pm South Africa time.

The Springbok team to face Wales in London is:

Position/Name/Franchise or Club/Test Caps/Test points

15. Willie le Roux Toyota Cheetahs (31 caps, 45 points)
14. JP Pietersen Cell C Sharks (63 caps, 110 points)
13. Jesse Kriel Vodacom Bulls (8 caps, 15 points)
12. Damian De Allende DHL Stormers (10 caps, 5 points)
11. Bryan Habana Toulon (114 caps, 320 points)
10. Handré Pollard Vodacom Bulls (17 caps, 141 points)
9. Fourie du Preez (captain) Suntory (74 caps, 75 points)
8. Duane Vermeulen DHL Stormers (32 caps, 10 points)
7. Schalk Burger (vice-captain) DHL Stormers (83 caps, 80 points)
6. Francois Louw Bath (40 caps, 40 points)
5. Lood de Jager Toyota Cheetahs (16 caps, 20 points)
4. Eben Etzebeth DHL Stormers (41 caps, 5 points)
3. Frans Malherbe DHL Stormers (9 caps, 0 points)
2. Bismarck du Plessis Cell C Sharks (76 caps, 55 points)
1. Tendai Mtawarira Cell C Sharks (72 caps, 10 points)

Replacements:

16. Adriaan Strauss Vodacom Bulls (51 caps, 30 points)
17. Trevor Nyakane Vodacom Bulls (20 caps, 5 points)
18. Jannie du Plessis Cell C Sharks (67 caps, 5 points)
19. Pieter-Steph du Toit Cell C Sharks (7 caps, 0 points)
20. Willem Alberts Cell C Sharks (35 caps, 35 points)
21. Ruan Pienaar Ulster (87 caps, 135 points)
22. Pat Lambie Cell C Sharks (47 caps, 131 points)
23. Jan Serfontein Vodacom Bulls (23 caps, 10 points)

Watch Video: Highlights of the Springboks vs Wales RWC2011 match

https://youtu.be/9PP-QX6EUkY

Springbok Test match record holders at Twickenham:

• Most points: 21 by Jannie de Beer (6p, 1d) against Australia, 30 October, 1999
• Most tries: Two by Chester Williams against England, 18 November, 1995
• Most conversions: Three by Ruan Pienaar against England, 22 November, 2008
• Most penalty goals: Six by Jannie de Beer against Australia, 30 October, 1999
• Most drop goals: Four by André Pretorius against England, 25 November, 2006

Source: SARugby