The Springbok team that will face New Zealand in the fourth Test in The Castle Rugby Championship in Dunedin on Saturday shows two changes from the side that played Australia last weekend.
Both changes are in the forwards, where lock Flip van der Merwe replaces the suspended Eben Etzebeth (DHL WP), while Francois Louw comes in for Marcell Coetzee at flank.
“The New Zealanders are good on the ground which is why we decided to go for a specialist openside flank in Francois,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
“Marcell has been very good this season and has played a lot of rugby, but in this match we feel he will be more useful as an impact option.”
Jannie du Plessis has been named at tighthead prop despite struggling with a hamstring niggle. Meyer said the Springbok medical team was working very hard on the injured players and that Du Plessis would be given until Friday to fully shake off his injury. If he fails to recover in time, Pat Cilliers will start in the No.3-shirt.
“We will not take any chances with injured players and we have time to get him and Pat (Cilliers) match ready,” said Meyer.
There are four more changes on the bench, where Coetzee joins the Bulls’ Dean Greyling and DHL Western Province pair, Andries Bekker and Juan de Jongh, amongst the replacements.
In all, there are three DHL WP players on the bench – Bekker, De Jongh and Tiaan Liebenberg – with a further three, captain Jean de Villiers, wing Bryan Habana and No.8 Duane Vermeulen, starting against the world champions.
Greyling will be on the bench to provide prop cover, while Bekker takes over from Van der Merwe in the No.18 shirt. De Jongh comes in for Lwazi Mvovo on the bench.
The Springbok starting XV has a combined total of 482 Test caps – 136 in the forwards and 346 in the backline.
The Springbok team to face New Zealand in Dunedin is:
(Test caps in brackets)
15. Zane Kirchner (Vodacom Blue Bulls – 18 caps)
14. Bryan Habana (DHL Western Province – 80)
13. Jean de Villiers (DHL Western Province – 78, captain)
12. Frans Steyn (The Sharks – 52)
11. Francois Hougaard (Vodacom Blue Bulls – 21)
10. Morné Steyn (Vodacom Blue Bulls – 40)
9. Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N-Ireland – 57)
8. Duane Vermeulen (DHL Western Province – 1)
7. Willem Alberts (The Sharks – 14)
6. Francois Louw (Bath, England – 11)
5. Juandré Kruger (Vodacom Blue Bulls – 4)
4. Flip van der Merwe (Vodacom Blue Bulls – 17)
3. Jannie du Plessis (The Sharks – 36)
2. Adriaan Strauss (Toyota FS Cheetahs – 15, vice-captain)
1. Tendai Mtawarira (The Sharks – 38)
Replacements:
16. Tiaan Liebenberg (DHL Western Province – 2)
17. Dean Greyling (Vodacom Blue Bulls – 2)
18. Andries Bekker (DHL Western Province – 26)
19. Marcell Coetzee (The Sharks – 6 caps)
20. Johan Goosen (Toyota FS Cheetahs – 1)
21. Juan de Jongh (DHL Western Province – 10)
22. Pat Lambie (The Sharks – 14)
Kick-off: 09h35 (SA time)