Bismarck du Plessis will play in his 50th Test for South Africa off the bench against Argentina in Mendoza on Saturday.
The experienced hooker has been selected on the bench after Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer decided to select an unchanged starting 15 for the second round of The Castle Lager Rugby Championship, with Adriaan Strauss starting in the No 2 jersey.
The match 23 shows only one change from the team that beat the Pumas by 73-13 last weekend – Jano Vermaak comes onto the bench as replacement scrumhalf for Fourie du Preez.
If Vermaak gets game-time, he will play in his second Test after making his Springbok debut in Durban against Italy in June. He picked up an unfortunate injury in that Test, which ruled him out of the rest of the Castle Lager Incoming Series.
“We’re fortunate that we are able to keep an unchanged team for this Test,” said Meyer.
“It will be a special day for Bismarck as he will become only the 24th South African to play in his 50th Test for the Springboks, and it’s very well deserved. Over the years, he’s always given 100% for the Boks and he will go down in history as one of the best hookers ever to play the game.
“We’re actually in a very privileged position to have two of the best hookers in world rugby in our system, in him and Adriaan. They bring out the best in each other and they will continue to grow as players and leaders in the team.”
Meyer said the Springboks know the Pumas will lift the intensity for Saturday’s match in Mendoza.
“We experienced first-hand how passionate their supporters are and how they can lift their team,” said Meyer.
“Having said that, our focus is on continuous improvement and we would like to keep on converting try-scoring opportunities, building on our good on-field discipline and improving our play at the breakdowns.”
Springbok team to face Argentina in Mendoza:
15. Willie le Roux (GWK Griquas 4)
14. Bjorn Basson (Vodacom Blue Bulls 10)
13. JJ Engelbrecht (Vodacom Blue Bulls 5)
12. Jean de Villiers (Captain – DHL Western Province 88)
11. Bryan Habana (Toulon, France 87)
10. Morné Steyn (Stade Francais, France 46)
9. Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N Ireland 67)
8. Duane Vermeulen (DHL Western Province 8)
7. Willem Alberts (The Sharks 22)
6. Francois Louw (Bath, England 20)
5. Juandré Kruger (Racing Metro, France 12)
4. Eben Etzebeth (DHL Western Province 15)
3. Jannie du Plessis (The Sharks 46)
2. Adriaan Strauss (Toyota FS Cheetahs 25)
1. Tendai Mtawarira (The Sharks 45)
Replacements:
16. Bismarck du Plessis (The Sharks 49)
17. Gurthrö Steenkamp (Toulouse, France 41)
18. Coenie Oosthuizen (Toyota FS Cheetahs 5)
19. Flip van der Merwe (Vodacom Blue Bulls 27)
20. Siya Kolisi (DHL Western Province 3)
21. Jano Vermaak (Toulouse, France 1)
22. Pat Lambie (The Sharks 24)
23. Jan Serfontein (Vodacom Blue Bulls 4)
Stats and facts:
- The Springbok starting team boasts a total of 500 Test caps (307 in the backline and 193 in the forwards), while there are a further 154 caps worth of experience on the bench.
- South Africa and Argentina have played each other 16 times since 1993, with the Springboks winning 15 Tests and one was drawn. The Springboks have scored 660 points and 83 tries, and conceded 307 points and 28 tries for an average score of 41-19.
- Jean de Villiers will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok centre, with 73 Tests in this position.
- Bryan Habana will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok wing, with 86 Tests in this position. He will also break his and Joost van der Westhuizen’s record of six career appearances against Argentina and if he scores a try, will extend his record of 51 Test tries for South Africa. Bryan also just needs one try to equal the Castle Lager Rugby Championship record of Christian Cullen (New Zealand) who scored 16 tries in his Rugby Championship / Tri-Nations career.
- Morné Steyn will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok flyhalf, with 45 Tests in this position. If he scores a try, Morné will extend his record of seven Test tries as a flyhalf for South Africa.
- If he goes on Bismarck du Plessis will reach the milestone of 50 Tests for his country. He will be the 24th player and second hooker in history to achieve this feat. If he scores a try he will also extend his own record of seven Test tries as a hooker for South Africa. If he goes on and play alongside his brother Jannie, they will extend their record of playing together in 26 Tests for the Springboks.
- If he goes on and scores a try, Gurthrö Steenkamp will extend his own record of six tries as a prop for South Africa.
- The referee is Steve Walsh of Australia. This will be his 15th Test involving South Africa. In the previous 14 South Africa have won 10, lost one and three ended in a draw. His last game for the Springboks was the corresponding game in Mendoza in last year’s Rugby Championship, which ended in a 16 all draw. Only Alain Rolland of Ireland, with 16 Tests, handled more Springbok Tests than Steve Walsh.
- Springbok Test match records at Malvinas Argentinas Stadium, Mendoza:
- Most points – 11 by Morné Steyn (1c, 3p) against Argentina on 25 August, 2012.
- Most tries – one by Frans Steyn on 25 August, 2012.
- Most conversions – one by Morné Steyn on 25 August, 2012.
- Most penalty goals – three by Morné Steyn on 25 August, 2012.
- Most drop goals – none.
- Saturday’s encounter in Mendoza will be the Springboks’ ninth Test in Argentina since 1993.
No surprises…
Well, let’s hope the Bokke keep the momentum up from last week!
I still somehow feel it’s a pity that Ruan Pienaar starts… would have rather wanted Jano to start and Piet van Zyl on the bench, both much zippier and nippier than langnek Pienaar!
What in all hell do people see in Ruan Pienaar that I simply cannot see?
hehe uiteindelik maak jy die titel reg.
Australia 307/4 at end of day 1 of 5th test being played at the Oval after winning the toss
Top scorer for Australia was Shane Watson with 176. Chris Woakes and Simon Kerrigan made their debuts for England with Jonny Bairstow dropped
Lets hope that the team plays like it did towards the end of last weekend’s test and doesn’t kick every fukken ball away aimlessly.
@ Loosehead:
But by the same token, lets not hope they are overconfident and bigheaded going into this match.
@ grootblousmile:
Ruan is uitstekende speler, dis in sy gene, maar hy is n losskakel; hy is hopeloos te tydsaam agter die skrum.
Ek sou hom dalk selfs heelagter gespeel het.
Maar wil my bekuk elke keer as hy ‘two step’ voor hy uitgee of daai up-and-undertjies skop, hy verplig sy voorspelers telkens om weer die ‘ruck’ op te sit omdat hy so traag is.
7 @ Pietman:
As jy jouself uitgee as ‘n skrumskakel en jy kan dan nie die skrumskakeldinge behoorlik, vinnig, akkuraat doen nie… dan rate ek jou as ‘n kak skrumskakel.
… en dis nou waar Ruan Pienaar vir my inpas… hy is ‘n kak skrumskakel!
@ grootblousmile:
Ditto.
Maar HM stem nie saam met ons nie.
En ek dink Morne het groot se in Ruan se keuse, hulle is dik tjomme van skooldae af, Cravens saam gespeel.
@ grootblousmile:
Jano is my man, dan Reinach en Sarel, in daai orde.
10 @ Pietman:
My voorkeurorde tans is Fourie du Preez (jammer hy speel net paar van die games), Jano Vermaak, Piet van Zyl en Sarel Pretorius.. in daai orde.
Cobus Reinach maak nie eers die Sharks Currie Cup beginspan nie, het potensiaal… maar as jy agter ‘n swak Charl mcLeod begin, dan’s daar iets fout.
Ek rate nogal die Shaun Venter outjie wat vir die Southern Kings gespeel het en nou weer terug by die Pumas is, daai outjie kan mooi ontwikkel onder die regte omstandighede.
Francois Hougaard was teleurstellend die jaar en is nou buitendien uit met ‘n langtermynbesering… hoop hy sort sy nonsens uit wanneer hy weer reg is.
Sien hulle’t vir Bismarck in, seker vir as die fight begin…hulle moes Bakkies ook gekry het vir hierdie toets – die Argentyne is gevaarlik op hulle tuisveld 🙂
Daar’s ‘n klomp outjies wat vir die Kings gespeel het wat verras het – lyk of Sollie ook nog nie sy touch verloor het as coach nie. Tye soos die mis ek SA – net te ver om die talent te sien ontwikkel. Ek moet maar die Rebels se talent dophou en hulle gaan slae kry volgende seisoen…
@ Alibaba:
Vi @ Alibaba:
Verseker! Hulle gaan geniepsig wees en ons probeer ontsenu, Eben sal hom moet inhou, of ons sien weer n Tucaman-toets waar Teichman, Garvey en Tiaan Strauss daai lot van een kwartlyn tot die ander een gejaag en gemoer het
Well this helped f-all with HM not substituting the worst player on the day – Ruan Pienaar
England going for a 4-0 series win, great stuff to watch
Australia 492/9d & 111/6d
England 377 & 139/2 (28.0 ov)
England require another 88 runs with 8 wickets remaining
Australia 492/9d & 111/6d
England 377 & 150/2 (31.3 ov)
England require another 77 runs with 8 wickets remaining
Day 5 – Session 3
Australia 492/9d & 111/6d
England 377 & 163/2 (34.0 ov)
England require another 64 runs with 8 wickets remaining
35.3
Faulkner to Trott, OUT
IJL Trott lbw b Faulkner 59 (87b 6×4 0x6) SR: 67.81
Australia 492/9d & 111/6d
England 377 & 170/4 (35.3 ov)
England require another 57 runs with 6 wickets remaining
Gosh what a turn around at the cricket
Australia 492/9d & 111/6d
England 377 & 191/4 (38.0 ov)
England require another 36 runs with 6 wickets remaining
Can you believe it England need 36 runs off a minimum of 6 overs with 6 wickets in hand to win a test that was looking like it was heading for a draw already by end of day 2 let alone the middle of today.
England 192/4 need another 35 BUT light is fading…
@ Bullscot:
Aussies play negative now, well they are trying to save themself from a 4-0 thrashing
16 @ superBul:
Yes hello superBul am very surprised its ended so exciting, when last I heard was around lunchtime today while driving when England were 8 wickets down in their first innings and Geoff Boycott was saying Australia would have to declare and give England a score to chase that they would be interested in going for if the game was going to go anywhere. He thought if the score was too big England would just shut shop. Anyway was going to tune in to the cricket on radio in the kitchen about half an hour ago but thought what for it was just petering out to draw, only reason I knew it was getting close to a win for England was when I popped out in the car for a bit and the radio was still tuned into the cricket from earlier.
26 @ superBul:
Seems like they are delaying for time tactics, but anyway it was there very sporting declaration that set the game up like this. England were also guilty of taking their time at stages in this series.
Umpires checked the light and decided to play on, England need 27 runs with 4 overs and 2 balls left.
@ superBul:
@ Bullscot:Hi Chaps, just able to have a quick look. Very exciting – Go England, and Bell!!!
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