Take a look at the Pools and Match schedule for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The Springboks are playing Wales (11 September – Wellington), Fiji (17 September 2011 – Wellington), Namibia (22 September – Auckland) and Samoa (30 September – Auckland).

Source:   rugbyworldcup.com

Springbok vice-captain Schalk Burger will miss the Test against the Italy this weekend due to an ankle injure.

Burger, who was the main feature at the Thursday media conference earlier on, underwent a fitness test on Thursday afternoon on the ankle, which he rolled against the French last weekend in Cape Town, and was not deemed fit to play in the game.

“The Springbok medical team advised that Burger be withdrawn as there remained a risk of further injury,” a team media statement said.

Burger’s place will be taken by impressive Stormers flanker Francois Louw, who excelled against France and Wales for the Springboks this season.

But while Burger’s loss is offset by Louw’s exhuberance, it has also robbed coach Peter de Villiers of the chance of seeing Dewald Potgieter slot into the loose trio with Pierre Spies and Burger, something De Villiers gave as a main reason for selecting the loose trio.

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Bandise Maku is a Springbok again after he replaced John Smit in the Sprinbok squad ahead of the first Test against Italy on Saturday.

This follows after Bok captain John Smit was ruled out of the game with a grade one hamstring strain.

Maku, who played in two of the midweek matches on South Africa’s year-end tour last season, joins the squad to cover for Smit.

There will be some questions as to why the two players behind World Cup winner Gary Botha in the Bulls pecking order – Maku and Chiliboy Ralepelle – got the call at hooker.

Van der Linde, however, returns to the squad after taking part in the one-off Test against Wales in Cardiff 10 days ago.

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Springbok coach Peter de Villiers will make quite a few changes to his Springbok team for the Tests against Italy in Witbank and East London the following two weeks despite having faired well against France at Newlands.

De Villiers made it clear that he wants to cast the net as wide as possible to increase his options for the World Cup in New Zealand next year – and the last two Tests against Wales, which they won 34-31 in Cardiff the previous week, and France have been part of the process.

He also emphasised that the teams should not be seen as weakened B sides.

“I select every side with the hope that the new combinations will work and that the players will show that they are up to Test standard,” he said. “If we lose, we lose as a (fully fledged) Springbok side.”

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Springbok coach and captain, Peter de Villiers and John Smit, both reiterated the importance of beating France at Newlands on Saturday with 16 months to go before the 2011 Rugby World Cup kicks off in New Zealand. The Boks were very classy as they beat the visitors by 42-17 for their first-ever victory over France [...]

Springbok centre Jean de Villiers has been signed by Western Province and Stormers and will be available for the Currie Cup this year already. De Villiers spent the past year with the Irish outfit Munster but has decided to return to South Africa with the intention of securing a place in the Springbok squad for [...]

Francois Louw and Gio Aplon of the Stormers have been rewarded for their good form against Wales and retained their positions in the Springbok team for Saturday’s match against France at Newlands. It will be a big occasion for the pair as it will be the first time they play for a full-strength Springbok team [...]

Juan Smith renewed his contract with the Free State Rugby Union, citing pride and business interests as his reasons. The 28-year-old Smith owns a butchery in Bloemfontein and also farms with cattle between Bloemfontein and Kimberley. Smith’s agent, Stephan Weyers, confirmed on Thursday that the Lions and Sharks were interested in signing him. A number [...]

The Bulls’ victory in the Super 14 final in Soweto not only broke down all boundaries by becoming the biggest rugby game ever to take place in a township, but it broke all television records as well. Figures released on Thursday by BMI Sport Info, South Africa’s leading independent sport and sponsorship Research Company, show [...]

The Bulls played the Stormers in the Super 14 final in front of 40 000 fans in Soweto and came out on top by 25 – 17. Morne Steyn, who kicked 19 points in last years final, kicked 20 this time around, as he once again played a vital role in a Bulls victory. Wing [...]