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De Jongh handed Bok start

PUBLISHED: November 14, 2012


The Springbok team to face Scotland on Saturday has two changes from the one that beat Ireland last weekend, with Gurthro Steenkamp and Juan de Jongh being included in the starting line-up at Murrayfield.

 

Steenkamp replaces CJ van der Linde at loosehead prop after the latter took over as late replacement from Tendai Mtawarira last weekend.

De Jongh, meanwhile, replaces Jaco Taute at outside centre and he will partner provincial colleague Jean de Villiers in the midfield – meaning there are four DHL WP players in the starting line-up.

In total, the Springbok team has 416 Test caps in the starting 15 – 150 of them amongst the forwards and 266 in the backline.

“It’s great to have Gurthro back – we wanted to select him last week, but unfortunately he was not 100% fit,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.

“Gurthro is experienced, knows the conditions well and is looking forward to returning to the Green and Gold as he’s not played for South Africa for more than a year.

“Juan is in a similar position. Even though he’s played in a number of Tests for us this year, he’s not started for the Boks since last year’s away leg of the Castle Tri-Nations against New Zealand in Wellington.

“My plan has always been to give him a start on this tour, as he’s been playing very well lately, and I’m excited to see what he brings to the team on Saturday.”

Heinke van der Merwe, a late replacement on the bench for Van der Linde last weekend, has kept his place among the reserves, with new DHL WP signing Pat Cilliers dropping out of the matchday squad.

Saturday’s Test will be the 22nd between South Africa and Scotland since they first met in 1906. Of these, the Boks have won 16 and lost five, which includes the last time they played, in 2010. On that occasion, the Scots won, 21-17.

“Our focus has been on improving from our performance against Ireland last week,” said Meyer.

“We saw the match between Scotland and New Zealand and that the Scots scored three tries against the All Blacks – which is more than any other team has managed against them this year.

“It was their first Test back since their season started and they will not be an easy opponent on Saturday, but we’ve also brushed off some cobwebs in Dublin and have had a good week on the training field.

“We lost on our last visit to Edinburgh and realise Saturday will be a massive battle, but it’s one we are looking forward to.”

The Springbok team to face Scotland in Edinburgh is:

15. Zane Kirchner (Vodacom Blue Bulls – 22 caps)
14. JP Pietersen (The Sharks – 46 caps)
13. Juan de Jongh (DHL Western Province – 12 caps)
12. Jean de Villiers (DHL Western Province – 82 caps, captain)
11. Francois Hougaard (Vodacom Blue Bulls – 25 caps)
10. Pat Lambie (The Sharks – 18 caps)
9. Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N-Ireland – 61 caps)
8. Duane Vermeulen (DHL Western Province – 5 caps)
7. Willem Alberts (The Sharks – 18 caps)
6. Francois Louw (Bath, England – 15 caps)
5. Juandré Kruger (Vodacom Blue Bulls – 6 caps)
4. Eben Etzebeth (DHL Western Province – 9 caps)
3. Jannie du Plessis (The Sharks – 40 caps)
2. Adriaan Strauss (Toyota FS Cheetahs – 19 caps, vice-captain)
1. Gurthro Steenkamp (Tolouse, France – 38 caps)

Reserves:
16. Schalk Brits (Saracens, England – 3 caps)
17. Heinke van der Merwe (Leinster, Ireland – 2 caps)
18. CJ van der Linde (MTN Golden Lions 73 caps)
19. Flip van der Merwe (Vodacom Blue Bulls – 20 caps)
20. Marcell Coetzee (The Sharks – 9 caps)
21. Morné Steyn (Vodacom Blue Bulls – 41 caps)
22. Jaco Taute (MTN Golden Lions – 3 caps)
23. Lwazi Mvovo (The Sharks – 7 caps)

Kick-off: 4.30pm (SA time)
Referee: George Clancy