13 July
Two changes to Springbok lineup
The Springboks have made two forced changes to their lineup to take on the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday. New Zealand on the other hand are battling to get several players fit.
Danie Rossouw was always a certainty to replace the suspended Bakkies Botha in the number four jersey, but there was some debate over whether BJ Botha or CJ van der Linde would come in for the injured Jannie du Plessis at tighthead prop.
Coach Peter de Villiers has settled on Van der Linde to start, with BJ Botha once again on the bench.
The 29-year-old Van der Linde joined Leinster in Ireland at the end of 2008 and was out of the Springbok team until the 2009 end-of-year tour when he was recalled after a spate of front-row injuries. He has now rejoined the Free State Cheetahs and De Villiers said on Tuesday he expected the World Cup-winner to have a big impact.
“I haven’t given CJ his rightful chance so far this year and I expect a lot from him because the hunger should be there.”
The ball-carrying ability and greater physical presence of Van der Linde (122kg, 1.90m) are the only obvious differences between him and Botha (110kg, 1.82m).
The selection of Rossouw in the starting XV is just reward for one of the unsung heroes of Springbok rugby and the fact that it is his 50th test cap will hopefully make it a special occasion for someone who has lived in Bakkies Botha’s shadow but is now starting to emerge as a great player in his own right.
“It helps that Danie played at number four for most of the season for the Bulls and is probably playing his best rugby since 2007,” captain John Smit said.
The presence of Ryan Kankowski on the bench — most observers felt Dewald Potgieter was the obvious choice to come in — suggests the Springboks may try a more expansive approach in the second half in order to break up the All Blacks defence, which was immense in Auckland.
Smit mentioned on Tuesday that “maybe the conditions in Auckland called for a bit more rugby from us”.
Making just enforced changes proves the Springbok management are obviously eager to show there is no panic following the 32-12 defeat at Eden Park and that the loss had more to do with the South Africans not playing to potential than any problems in personnel.
“It’s basically the same team and the trick is to stop the change that we don’t want that happened last week. When you let yourself down and get beaten properly, you have to go back to the basics that made you a good team in the first place,” Smit said.
“I trust the bunch of people that are with me, they just weren’t on song last weekend. These boys are much better than what they showcased on Saturday. They just had a bad game and I expect them to be back to form this weekend,” De Villiers said.
The All Blacks, meanwhile, have delayed the naming of their team as they wait for clarity on the fitness of wing Joe Rokocoko (hamstring), scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan (abdominal strain) and lock Tom Donnelly (tight calf).
Springbok team – 15-Zane Kirchner, 14-Jean de Villiers, 13-Jaque Fourie, 12-Wynand Olivier, 11-Bryan Habana, 10-Morne Steyn, 9-Ricky Januarie, 8-Pierre Spies, 7-Francois Louw, 6-Schalk Burger, 5-Victor Matfield, 4-Danie Rossouw, 3-CJ van der Linde, 2-John Smit (capt), 1-Gurthro Steenkamp.
Reserves: 16-Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17-BJ Botha, 18-Andries Bekker, 19-Ryan Kankowski, 20-Ruan Pienaar, 21-Butch James, 22-Gio Aplon.
Source + Pic: supersport.co.za
