Juan De Jongh has been named at inside centre in the Bok team to face Wales in a one-off Test in Cardiff on Saturday. He replaces Butch James, who has been withdrawn because of protracted club-versus-country dispute that raged this week.
The 21-year-old was named in the No.12 jersey when Springbok coach Peter de Villiers confirmed the team at a media conference in Cardiff on Thursday.
Rugby365 also reports as follows
“This is almost unbelievable, but it’s an exciting moment for me too,” said De Jongh.
“I feel for Butch, but I must now focus on what the team needs from me on Saturday. It’s good to be playing with experienced players like Ruan and Jaque and my experience playing with Jaque in Super 14 will also be a great help.”
Bok coach Peter de Villiers said he was disappointed at the late change, but that it provided a great opportunity for the young centre to prove himself.
“This is a great opportunity for Juan, who has had a fantastic Super 14 season,” De Villiers said.
“He is a talented player who has held his own in a very tough environment and I have faith in his abilities to make the step up.”
De Jongh is one of three uncapped players from the Super 14 finalist Stormers in an otherwise experienced line-up. The other newcomers are wing Gio Aplon and flank Francois Louw.
Victor Matfield replaces Andries Bekker in the one other change to the starting line-up named on May 22.
Zane Kirchner comes on to the bench in place of De Jongh.
James was withdrawn as the Test falls outside the IRB’s designated June ‘Global Release’ window – during which time clubs must release players to their national teams.
SARU hoped to secure the player’s release on Wednesday, by virtue of clauses in his contract that allow player release for teams such as the British & Irish Lions and Barbarians.
SARU hoped that as no player welfare issue was at stake, James could be similarly released.
However, Premier Rugby, the umbrella organisation responsible for managing the 12 professional clubs in England, stubbornly refused to release James.
“SARU, Bath and Butch were all keen to see James play, but the rule has been strictly enforced,” said Oregan Hoskins, President of the South African Rugby Union.
“What’s particularly frustrating is that Schalk Brits has just played 33 matches for Saracens and can be released to play for the Barbarians against Ireland this weekend, whereas Butch has played barely a dozen matches this season and he can’t play against Wales.”
South Africa: 15 Frans Steyn, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Odwa Ndungane, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Joe van Niekerk, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 BJ Botha, 2 John Smit, 1 CJ van der Linde.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Meyer Bosman, 21 Zane Kirchner, 22 Bjorn Basson.
Date: Saturday, June 5
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 14.30 (13.30 GMT; 15.30 SA time)
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Dave Pearson (England), Robin Goodliffe (England)
TMO: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
I also see this on one of the rugby sites, did not think it fit to publish, seeing as we’re not a skinner magazine:
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Springbok lock Andries Bekker has definitely returned home from Cardiff because of injury, despite a potential storm brewing in Cape Town over problems in his personal life.
Bekker returned to Cape Town, from Cardiff, on Wednesday – where he was meant to have been part of the South African starting line-up to play Wales in a one-off Test on Saturday.
The web site can reveal that a foot injury has definitely forced Bekker home – despite rumours of problems in his personal life surfacing this week, prompting some to suggest that he had returned home to deal with these issues.
However, we can confirm that the Bok team management is aware of Bekker’s personal problems – which are set to be revealed in a weekly magazine later this week – but they regard those rumours as a “private matter” altogether.
The Bok management have decided not to get involved in the player’s personal life and have left it up to him and his family to resolve on their own.
Bekker suffered a foot injury when Bulls lock Danie Rossouw fell on him in the Super 14 Final in Soweto last Saturday, while he also had lower back problems this season.
Further to that, we can also confirm that Bekker has played with a serious hand injury for the last month and is now likely to miss the rest of South Africa’s June internationals – at least – which could put him in doubt for the 2010 Tri-Nations.
The 26-year-old lock underwent scans for his foot injury before his departure to Cardiff last Sunday and was fitted with a moon boot, to help reduce swelling on the flight over to the United Kingdom.
However, by Tuesday the swelling and bruising had not subsided and the player was still in substantial discomfort – prompting team management to fly over Bulls captain, and Bok veteran, Victor Matfield as his replacement.
GBS, personal problems is a very broad term, Pedrie had personal problems because of cocaine abuse and Juan Smith has personal issues with the loss of his father. So do you know any more about this rumour?
BOKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope Frans fires on Saturday.
@ Winston:
3 – Morning Winston, Yip it is the Boks now. Pleased we all one again lol.
Looking forward to seeing Frans Steyn and how he plays after being away from saffa rugby. Also looking forward to seeing BJ play. Not too much CJ as heard he has not been playing that well. Interesting to see Joe Van Niekerk back though.
This team can win…but it’s gping to be tough..
Ricky/Ruan combination, one of them…
@ Blouste:
5 – Blouste, Yes there is plenty talent in this Bok team just not enough game time I think. Though would never have had Ricky at scrummie. Would probably have given Kockott a chance.
@ Puma:
Yes Ricky is a concern, but I guess the game will be slower than here.
Big question is how they will all play together as they didnt really have any time to prepare.
Think they might surprise though, the Welch also have a couple of injuries.
@ Blouste: 7 – Blouste, Plenty talent in that Bok side. Just not enough game time together. Though talent like that should do well. Then look at some of Baa Baas games, they get some of the very best players and many of the times never win. You need game time together.
@ Winston:
Apparantly having an affair with a student on the side for 5 months
You know, looking again at this Bokke side…. the tight 5 is about a 1st choice Bokke combo, only exception being CJ who should stand aside for Gurthro Steenkamp or Beast. (Bakkies in my opinion does not merit a Bokke selection this year).
The chosen loosie combo is strong, with the possible exception of Big Joe, all of Spies, Vermeulen, Alberts & Kankowski is better than Joe… with Kanko right there on the bench this Saturday….
Bring Schalla & Stegmann into the mix and you have the loosies and bench loosies for the Bokke. Replace Jannie Du Plessis & Chilliboy with Beast or Gurthro and Gary Botha or Tiaan Liebenberg….
Move Ruan one position in at scrumhalf (whilst Fourie du Preez is out due to the pending operation to the shoulder), insert Morné Steyn into flyhalf and Choose Bryan Habana or Francois Hougaard in the place of Ndungane and you’ve got a 1st choice Bokke backline….
Zane Kirchner and Bjorn Basson are both already on the bench and Wynand Olivier could bolster midfield or be on the bench in place of Bosman.
So, this squad is not very far away from a 1st choice Bokke squad… 5 changes and this is Bokke’s strongest run-on lineup…
Some decent combination choices will run out this weekend… Hooker and Tighthead, Locks, Centres & 1 wing.
Only real pity remaining in the Bokke line-up is the 2 Assistant coaches…. Dicey-Dicky and Gary Glitter.
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