Experienced backline stars JP Pietersen and Jaque Fourie are back in the Springbok team for Saturday’s Castle Lager Outgoing Tour opener against Wales in Cardiff, while Frans Malherbe will make his Test debut at the Millennium Stadium.
In naming his side for Saturday’s Test against the current Six Nations champions, Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has decided to hand Fourie his first Test for South Africa since the Rugby World Cup in 2011, while a combination of injury and non-availability means Pietersen is back for his first taste of international rugby yet this season.
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“We’re very fortunate to have two world-class players in JP and Jaque available for selection and I wanted to get then into the action as soon as possible,” said Meyer.
“They bring a vast amount of experience to the team and it was clear from our training sessions thus far that they are in great form and ready for Test rugby.”
In the front row, 22-year-old Frans Malherbe comes in for the injured Jannie du Plessis, while the only other change to the pack of forwards is at lock, with Flip van der Merwe starting next to Eben Etzebeth in the middle row.
“Frans has big boots to fill, but he’s been with us for most of 2012 and shown good form since recovering from injury recently and we don’t have any doubts that he has what it takes to make the step up,” said Meyer.
“He’ll have two players with more than 50 Test caps each next to him in the scrum, and his general work-rate across the field and on defence is very good. I’m very happy for Frans.”
A second uncapped player, Pieter-Steph du Toit, could make his Test debut for the Springboks. The promising lock has been included on the bench for this Test.
“I’ve been following his career for a long time and Pieter-Steph has always impressed me,” said Meyer.
“We first invited him to a training camp last year and he probably would’ve played for South Africa earlier this season had he not gotten injured. His inclusion in the squad is just reward for a young player who has successfully made the step up to senior rugby.
“To see Frans and Pieter-Steph make the step up to Test match rugby is wonderful. They are two very promising young players and deserve to play for the Springboks, just like we’ve used, with great success, players such as Willie le Roux, Jan Serfontein, JJ Engelbrecht, Arno Botha, Marcell Coetzee, Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and Trevor Nyakane in the last two seasons.”
Springbok team:
15. Pat Lambie (29 caps 55 points)
14. JP Pietersen (48 caps 70 points)
13. Jaque Fourie (69 caps 160 points)
12. Jean de Villiers (captain – 93 caps 120 points)
11. Bryan Habana (92 caps 265 points)
10. Morné Steyn (51 caps 618 points)
9. Fourie du Preez (65 caps 70 points)
8. Duane Vermeulen (13 caps 5 points)
7. Willem Alberts (27 caps 30 points)
6. Francois Louw (25 caps 25 points)
5. Flip van der Merwe (31 caps 5 points)
4. Eben Etzebeth (20 caps 0 points)
3. Frans Malberhe (0 caps 0 points)
2. Bismarck du Plessis (v-captain – 54 caps 40 points)
1. Tendai Mtawarira (50 caps 10 points)
Replacements:
16. Adriaan Strauss (30 caps 25 points)
17. Gurthrö Steenkamp (46 caps 30 points)
18. Coenie Oosthuizen (11 caps 5 points)
19. Pieter-Steph du Toit (0 caps 0 points)
20. Siya Kolisi (8 caps 0 points)
21. Ruan Pienaar 71 caps 130 points
22. JJ Engelbrecht (10 caps 20 points)
23. Willie le Roux (9 caps 15 points)
Stats and facts:
- The Springbok starting team boasts a total of 667 Test caps (447 in the backline and 220 in the forwards), while there are a further 185 caps worth of experience on the bench.
- South Africa and Wales last met on 11 September, 2011 at the Wellington Regional Stadium (also known as the Westpac Stadium) in Wellington during the pool stage of the Rugby World Cup. The Springboks beat Wales narrowly by 17-16 thanks to a late try by Francois Hougaard, converted by Morné Steyn.
- Jean de Villiers will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok centre, with 78 Tests in this position. He will also be the captain for the 22nd time in a row and will draw level with Dawie de Villiers in fourth place on the list of Springbok captains, behind John Smit (83), Gary Teichmann (36) and Francois Pienaar (29).
- Bryan Habana will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok wing, with 91 Tests in this position and if he scores a try, will extend his record of 53 Test tries for South Africa.
- Morné Steyn will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok flyhalf, with 50 Tests in this position. If he scores a try, he will also extend his record of seven Test tries as a flyhalf for South Africa.
- Should he score, Bismarck du Plessis will extend his record of eight Test tries for South Africa as a hooker.
- If he takes to the field and scores a try, Gurthrö Steenkamp will extend his own record of six tries as a prop for South Africa.
- Jaque Fourie last played for South Africa against Australia in the quarter-final of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in Australia. If he scores a try he will extend his record of 28 Test tries for South Africa as a centre.
- If he takes to the field Pieter-Steph du Toit will become the second Springbok whose grandfather also played for South Africa. His granddad Piet (Spiere) du Toit played 14 Tests for SA from 1958 to 1961, including the 1960 test match against Wales in Cardiff, which the Springboks won 3-0. Francois Louw’s grandfather Jan Pickard played four Tests for SA from 1956-1958.
- The referee is Alain Rolland of Ireland. This will be his 17th Test involving South Africa, which is the record for an international referee in South African Test matches. The Springboks have won nine and lost seven of these encounters. His last game was the test against New Zealand on 6 October, 2012 at the FNB Stadium in Soweto, when the Boks lost by 16-32. (Rolland was scheduled to handle the game between South Africa and Australia in Brisbane on 7 September this year, but due to an injury he had to withdraw and was replaced by George Clancy.)
Springbok Test match records at Cardiff Arms Park and Millennium Stadium:
- Most points – 23 (1t, 3c, 4p) by Percy Montgomery on 6 November, 2004 against Wales.
- Most tries – three by Joost van der Westhuizen on 15 December, 1996 against Wales.
- Most conversions – three by Percy Montgomery on 6 November, 2004 against Wales and by Andre Pretorius on 24 November, 2007 against Wales.
- Most penalty goals – five by Morné Steyn on 13 November, 2010 against Wales.
- Most drop goals – two by Percy Montgomery on 4 November, 1999 against New Zealand.
The Springboks and Wales have played 15 times in Cardiff since 1912 with the Boks winning 13, losing one (19-29 in 1999) and drawn one (6-6 in 1970). The last game between the two countries was in 2010, with the Boks winning 29-25.
The Boks have scored 327 points (35 tries) against 236 points (18 tries) for an average of 22-16.
Restricting Springbok selection to only local-based players won’t limit the exodus. Of the 232 playing abroad, only 12 have been picked for the Springbok tour. That represents five percent.
South Africa’s greatest flyhalf Naas Botha was this country’s first true rugby professional – in terms of earning and in terms of attitude.
Botha, in the amateur era, would play for the Bulls on a Saturday afternoon, get on the last flight out of South Africa and be playing for Rovigo in Italy on a Sunday afternoon.
He didn’t do this every weekend but he did it when the two seasons schedules clashed. Botha was the best-paid rugby player in South Africa and one of the most rewarded in Italy.
Botha and I share one common view about the Springboks and that is the best players should get chosen regardless of where they play their rugby.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer is right to pick whom he believes to the best.
It is absolute nonsense to accuse South African players abroad of betrayal or of a lack of loyalty to South African rugby or the Springbok jersey.
Why condemn a player who is maximizing his earning potential in a professional career that rarely has a lifespan in excess of 10 years? Why reward mediocrity by picking an inferior player because he is based locally?
Why punish a player who can earn a three million Euros overseas contract when in this country he is being offered three million rand?
@ superBul:
31
If Naas says so i wont complain again
@ grootblousmile:
I agree 100% with the overseas player policy. At the moment it is as clear as mud, and I have no doubt that it WILL influence some of the youner players currently not in the line for National honours to persue a carreer overseas.
After all, the policy of yesteryear is totally null and void at present.
I make no bones about my dislike of the SARU management style and way of doing things, but have decided of late to let the hatchet lie, and accept that the SA National side is still “my side”, irrespective of who coaches it and who that coach picks.
I don’t have the same enthusiasm as 2 years go, but still want them to win every game.
Unfortunately I have the policy in life that bitching about something does no good whatsoever, and that constructive change can only come about in any sporting body from THE INSIDE. Hence, if I expect change in SARU’s style of running things it is up to ME to get involved again and bring meaningfull pressure to bear from within the structures.
@ superBul:
As long as SARU / HM see the RWC as the “holy grail”, everything will always reveolve aroung a 4 year cycle.
IMO not condusive to delevlopment of a large pool of players capable of donning the National jersey and fitting in with the relevant playing pattern(s) at a weeks notice.
31 @ superBul:
I have no problem with any player playing overseas.
Rugby is after all a professional sport.
What I have a problem with is the lack of a concrete policy surrounding the selection of overseas based players by SARU.
Either embrace professionalism properly and pick the best irrrspecive of where they play, of do it like the AB’s and pick NO overseas based player.
Just don’t leave the situation in limbo with nobody having a cooking clue where they stand.
Scrumdown wrote:
Will they look in the mirror if everyone keeps quiet?
Words that come to my mind when you want change is.
Toy-toying
demonstrating
picketing
boycott
but we are only asking questions on forums and newspapers. And blogs. polls etc.
i know very few are listened to but at least we can say something.
@ Scrumdown:
34
Yes i agree
@ Scrumdown:
Wow. That must have been very strong coffee you had this morning :-), but I agree with what you say. We as supporters need to support the national team with all our hearts every time they run out onto that pitch. However, we as supporters do have the right to give our 2 cents worth. We all feel we will do better than the coach, but he is the one who’s career and reputation is on the line week in and week out. Not so long ago the De Villiers/Fourie combo was touted as the best 12/13 combo in international rugby. JPP was a devastating defender, and a deceptively quick and slippery attacker. So imo the backline hasn’t lost too much. And if the back 3 gel, and are given a bit more liberty to express themselves than they had under JW and PDV, we could see some exciting moves and tries.
33 @ Scrumdown:
Yip… whether the call is for or against “Overseas Players”… is not the issue… the fact that the Policy is as clear as mud, is the issue.
Personally I would like a restrictive “Overseas Player Selection Policy”, because although it might not stop or reduce players going overseas by that much, it serves other purposes too.
For instance, when Springbok Training Groups have to assemble during the first part of the year… and before the International Windows in June and November, it is clear that most of the overseas-based players won’t be able to attend… so it simply interferes with valuable preparation time and sequence.
I also believe that you will keep younger players (more in any case) in SA a bit longer if you have clear policy against the inclusion of overseas based players. The stance might be argued to be a bit naiive… but it will at least be a consideration in contract negotiations.
Maybe Springbok selection Policy must not be so much about OVERSEAS or not, but maybe about whether players are ALLOWED PARTICIPATION IN ALL TRAINING CAMPS & ALL INTERNATIONALS… in other words it must be about ready availability.
Lets Analise one position, Scrumhalf and tell me then is it not worth questioning the picks?
Predictions for Saturday… both for the Springbok / Wales game and the France / All Blacks game??
37 @ Lion4ever:
I also like the fact that Jaque Fourie could shore up and organise defenses in midfield… in my mind a step to the better without sacrificing attacking impetus.
JP Pietersen on Right Wing…. errrrr… not so sure about that one, seing as Willie le Roux provided some needed spark on attack, but once again I am happy to see how it goes, with Willie on the bench anyway.
… and sure, we all have to be able to give our opinion… this is what Rugby-Talk is all about, if you think deeply about it.
40 @ grootblousmile:
Wales / Sa game too close to call IMO. Could go either way based on the weather.
France / NZ depends on which French side pitches up.
BBC’s weather outlook for Cardiff on Saturday:
Wales
Forecast Summary
Outlook for Saturday to Monday
Scattered showers and sunny spells on Saturday. A frosty, bright start on Sunday but turning wet, windy and murky through the afternoon. Cloud slowly breaking on Monday but showers developing.
42 @ Scrumdown:
OK, my balls on the wall…
Bokke for a win… but no runaway victory
All Blacks for a comfortable win.
@ grootblousmile:
France would love to revenge the WC defeat, but i think the ABs is now such a great unit that it will be a first half win for France and a demolition of them by the ABs in second half
HT Score FR 12-8 NZ
FT Score FR 19-32 NZ
Springboks my heart says SA 37-15 WALES and to hell with my mind
@ superBul:
Du Preez is not the player he was before he went to Japan, but imo a far better pick than Pienaar to start. However, Pienaar has a way of giving his critics the middle finger by pitching up with a decent performance, but he is not consistent enough. But the WP scrummie HM picked is not the next best we have in SA. Heck, even the 2 Sharks 9’s are better IMO.
44 @ grootblousmile:
Not even going to contemplate Superbru until Sat morning.
Reckon the AB’s will do one over the French, but the Taffy Bastids want to beat SA SOOOOO bad.
46 @ Lion4ever:
Flip, my 11 year old daughter is better!
I said in the week, somewhere else on R-T, that I want the Springboks to become like “Slow Poison”, something the All Blacks are mastering with ease now already.
Passion only takes one so far in a “Weaker” team…. so most good International sides manage to limit too much damage in the 1st half, then fall away in the 2nd half when all the gears click in.
So, I expect from the Springboks (not only for this weekend) to deploy in such a way that they pull away in the 2nd half… that is the ultimate goal and sign of a superior side.
That pre-suposes a very balanced game between set pieces, ground ball, defence and attack… and great execution.
I also said that I do not think the Wallabies have that under Ewen McKenzie.
46 @ Lion4ever:
Pity that Heyneke Meyer did not pick Rory Kockott in place of Ruan Pienaar and Charl McLeod in place of Shreuder.
@ Lion4ever:
I cant see why he dropped Van Zyl, for this one.
Piet van Zyl was quick, brilliant until the Cheetahs pack started struggling. But still he was not bad at all.
Kockott would have made more sense, but maybe it is only the overseas numbers mounting that prevented that he was picked.
If Schreuder is only there to experience the Bok culture so be it. Maybe HM could save us a few tears by hanging the carrot in front of Kockott to.
49 @ grootblousmile:
When the Bulls last won the SR crown that was how they played.
Squeeze the life out of the opponents in the first 50 minutes, with controlled forward possession and territory, then let the loose forwards and backs start linking up to punch holes through a weary defence.
It was bloody good Rugby to watch.
Whether the game has “moved on” since then I’m not sure.
For me, the problem for SA remains the ability to adapt to circumstances on the field at any given time. Ref’, weather, opposition tactics.
Too often they seem incabaple of changing their own tactics / game plan to suit alien or unexpected conditions.
PS, it’s been like that for the last 1 years at least.
52 @ Scrumdown:
Flip, LAST 10 YEARS.
51 @ superBul:
Maybe Kockott has had a “French Carrott” dangled in front of his nose?
@ Scrumdown:
52
we go into shock instead of biting the bullet.
By the time we get over our shock the damage is already done.
Somehow i get the feeling that when any NZ team gets a card or a bad decision they become more determined, to concentrate and beat the odds.
GBS gaan jy nog midrand toe?
@ superBul:
Our coaches seem to think that our players can’t think for themselves, and all crfeativity gets coached out of them.
There is a rugby coaching channel from where i receive a weekly mail. The drills and videos are great and it makes sense. I dont think our coaching culture is nearly as good as that of NZ. Remember McLook had a few of his experiences here a while back, they study the game better over there. That how it looks for me.
With an eye on the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer says he wants Patrick Lambie to be comfortable in two positions.
Lambie has been picked at fullback for South Africa’s Test against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, but Meyer said he will utilise the Sharks star at flyhalf as well during the year-end tour.
58 @ superBul:
I agree 100% but I also think it goes even deeper than that.
When does our Provincial Unions get involved with primary school coaching? When do they ever visit the smaller high schools and look at what’s going on there?
I know for a fact that at the Lions in 6 years of involvement at a lower league club we only had ONE visit from any provincial coaches, and that was when Frans Ludeke had been sidelined and told to visit the clubs.
As it was he didn’t know the difference bertween Ennerdale and EdenPark, and piched up at Eden Park by mistake.
Other than that, not ONE VISIT TO EITHER GAMES, OR PRACTICES.
All I say is that it’s SAD.
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