Gurthrö Steenkamp
South Africa’s Player of the Year in 2010, Gurthrö Steenkamp, will make his 50th Test appearance for the Springboks when they take on Wales at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban on Saturday (kick-off 17:00 SA Time, 15:00 GMT).
Steenkamp has been included in the starting line-up for the first Welsh Test in one of six changes to the match-day squad from the team which comprehensively beat the World XV last weekend in Cape Town, four of which are positional shifts.
Cornal Hendricks, who shone for the Springboks last weekend at DHL Newlands, will make his Test debut on Saturday, while his provincial team mate from the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, the uncapped Lood de Jager, has been selected on the bench.
The two changes in the backline are at inside centre, where Jan Serfontein will earn his first Test start for South Africa, and scrumhalf, where Fourie du Preez will start with Ruan Pienaar on the bench alongside Tendai Mtawarira, who has swapped places with Steenkamp.
The 32-year-old Steenkamp, who made his international debut on 27 November 2004 against Scotland in Edinburgh, will become the 29th Springbok to reach 50 Test caps. He will also become the sixth prop to achieve this feat behind Os du Randt, CJ van der Linde, Ollie le Roux, Jannie du Plessis and Mtawarira.
“This is a wonderful achievement for Gurthrö and I’m very proud of him,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
“He has been playing Test rugby for a decade and is vastly experienced at all levels of the game. Gurthrö always gives everything he has for the Springbok jersey and it’s always good to see commitment and hard work pay off.”
Meyer was also very happy for Hendricks and De Jager, who have been two of the Toyota Cheetahs’ stars this season.
“To make one’s Test debut is a proud moment in any player’s career. Cornal and Lood fully deserve to be in the squad this weekend and I know they will do well,” said Meyer.
“Cornal performed exceptionally well in his first start for South Africa against the World XV last weekend and really made the most of his opportunity.”
“Lood has everything expected from a modern lock – not only is he big and powerful, but he likes the physical stuff and is very skilful as well.”
“I also planned on giving Jan an opportunity this month. He was first selected when he was 20 last year and it’s always been our plan to groom him for a long Springbok career. He’s been playing well for the Vodacom Bulls lately and his first start for the Springboks is well-deserved after making nine appearances from the bench in 2013.”
“Jan and JP Pietersen will face a very experienced midfield combination on Saturday, but they have played against the best in Vodacom Super Rugby and know what is expected of them.”
Meyer said he is expecting a stern challenge from Wales on Saturday.
“They started their tour well with a good win in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday evening and they are always fired up and ready,” said the Springbok coach.
“Wales have an experienced coaching team and they were the Six Nations champions in 2012 and 2013, as well as the back-bone of the British & Irish Lions team which beat Australia last year, so this will be a massive challenge in our first Test of the season.”
“Although we got our season off to a good start against the World XV last weekend, there were a few areas of the game we were not satisfied with and which we worked hard on this week. We will have to be at our best on Saturday and we want to make our supporters proud.”
Victor Matfield, who will captain the Springboks for the 18th time in a Test, will equal John Smit’s South African record of 111 Tests in the Green and Gold.
Four players who are part of the squad were not considered for selection because of illness and injury. They are Juan de Jongh (chest infection), Siya Kolisi (flu), Oupa Mohoje (flu) and Marnitz Boshoff (ankle).
Springbok team:
15. Willie le Roux (12 caps 20 points)
14. Cornal Hendricks (0 caps 0 points)
13. JP Pietersen (51 caps 80 points)
12. Jan Serfontein (9 caps 5 points)
11. Bryan Habana (95 caps 265 points)
10. Morné Steyn (54 caps 636 points)
9. Fourie du Preez (vice-captain – 67 caps, 75 points)
8. Duane Vermeulen (16 caps 5 points)
7. Willem Alberts (30 caps 35 points)
6. Francois Louw (28 caps 25 points)
5. Victor Matfield (captain – 110 caps 35 points)
4. Bakkies Botha (78 caps 35 points)
3. Jannie du Plessis (51 caps 5 points)
2. Bismarck du Plessis (vice-captain – 57 caps 45 points)
1. Gurthrö Steenkamp (49 caps 30 points)
Replacements:
16. Schalk Brits (5 caps 0 points)
17. Tendai Mtawarira (53 caps 10 points)
18. Coenie Oosthuizen (14 caps 10 points)
19. Lood de Jager (0 caps 0 points)
20. Schalk Burger (68 caps 65 points)
21. Ruan Pienaar (74 caps 130 points)
22. Johan Goosen (4 caps 8 points)
23. Lwazi Mvovo (7 caps 5 points)
Stats and facts:
- The Springbok starting team boasts a total of 707 Test caps (288 in the backline and 419 in the forwards), while there are a further 225 caps worth of experience on the bench.
- South Africa and Wales have played each other 27 times since 1906, with the Springboks winning 25 Tests, losing once and one was drawn. The Springboks have scored 739 points and 92 tries and conceded 382 points and 32 tries for an average score of 27-14.
- South Africa and Wales last met on 9 November, 2013 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. The Springboks beat Wales 24-15 thanks to three tries from Jean de Villiers, Bismarck du Plessis and Fourie du Preez against five penalties by Leigh Halfpenny.
- Victor Matfield will equal John Smit’s record of 111 Tests for South Africa in what will be his 11th Test against Wales, one more than the previous record 10 appearances against the Welsh, held jointly between him and Smit.
- Bryan Habana will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok wing, with 94 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 52 Tests in this position. If he scores a try, he will also extend his record of eight Test tries as a flyhalf for South Africa.
- If he scores a try, Bismarck du Plessis will extend his record of nine test tries for South Africa as a hooker. Bismarck and his brother Jannie will also be playing together in their 32nd Test, a Springbok record for brothers.
- Schalk Burger will extend his record as the most capped Springbok flank, with 66 Tests in this position. He also shares the record with Juan Smith for the most Test tries as a flank (11).
- Gurthrö Steenkamp will be playing in his 50th Test for the Springboks. He will be the 29th Springbok in history to achieve this feat. If he scores a try, he will extend his own record of six tries as a prop for South Africa.
- Cornal Hendricks is the only new Springbok in the starting team. He will be Springbok No. 855. If he goes on, Lood de Jager will become Springbok No. 856.
- Thirteen of the players were involved in the last Test in 2013 (against France). JP Pietersen played on the wing while Gurthro Steenkamp and Bakkies went on as substitutes. Coenie Oosthuizen played tighthead prop while Ruan Pienaar started at scrumhalf.
- The referee is Romain Poite of France. This will be his fourth Test involving South Africa. The Springboks have won two and lost one of these encounters. His last game was the Test against New Zealand on 14 September, 2013 at Eden Park in Auckland, when the Boks lost by 29-15 in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
Springbok Test match records at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban:
- Most points – 31 (1t, 1c, 8p) by Morné Steyn on 1 August, 2009 against New Zealand.
- Most tries – five by Stefan Terblanche on 19 June, 1999 against Italy.
- Most conversions – eight by Gaffie du Toit on 19 June, 1999 against Italy.
- Most penalty goals – eight by Morné Steyn on 1 August, 2009 against New Zealand.
- Most drop goals – three by Naas Botha on 3 May, 1980 against South America and also three on 6 June, 1981 against Ireland.
nortierd wrote:
@ nortierd:
Hahaha…
Chester se vrou moes hom leer dat ou Frikkie in SY (Chester se) diens is en dat hy nie nodig het om vir hom “meneer” te se nie.
@ Pietman:
In alle eerlikheid hy was baie onbestendig, en het eintlik maar net n moerse skop aan hom gehad. Dit het hy ook oordoen daarom is sy knieg nou moertoe.
Hy het meer wedstryde verloor met skoppe as wat hy gewen het. FEIT.
@Ashley and GBS ( mos n prokurower)
Do you think now that Fransie won’t be on the cover of the latest Playstation edition of Rugby ’14 that he can sell his image for a new game called ” The Fat and the Furios” I doubt the producers of the Fast and the Furious will even know
Nama
Kyk wat skryf die Lone Dove nou weer, tipies wat ons gedink het, ou Fransie is nou n dubbele hero in Natal want hy kies die Sharks bo die Bokke.
Maar kyk wat skryf n ou terug vir die Lone Dove, sy reputasie hardloop hom weer vooruit
😀
Heavens Game • 8 hours ago
Haha.. Gotta chuckle at all this Frans Steyn hate… Go you good thing Fransie and know that most Sharks supporters appreciate you for the World Class player you are…
I don’t trust. That double speaking heilige heynekes hand in this…
sigh Heavens Game • 7 hours ago
Says the guy who wishes injury on players. Thought you left this site, guess we arent so lucky. Disgusting the way you acted last year on Keo. Hopefully you’ve grown up a bit but i wont be holding my breath. Surely the troll24 people are more your type?
nortierd @ 154
gaan nou by jou wees
gou net besig om vi keo te help om sy sente te tel
154 @ nortierd:
Maybe the “Fat and the Dubious” is a better title, and distance enough away from the Furious word, to make it unique!
grootblousmile wrote:
Ha ha
Ok, but our little boy wizard is furious at the moment
@ Pietman:
Ek dink dit was op aanbeveling van sy agent dat hy nie een aanvaar het nie. Hy kon meer geld maak deur sy “image” te koppel aan Pepsi en Spur.
@ Pietman:
OK, dankie.
@ grootblousmile:
Ja, dit maak maklik oop tot daar, maar dit wil nie die my keuses “vat” nie so ek kan nie submit nie.
Ashley wrote:
Aanvaar die Nigerians sente as Keo by hulle koop?
@ nortierd:
Wie is Lone Dove, HG?
@ grootblousmile:
Ja, dit maak maklik oop tot daar, maar dit wil nie die my keuses “vat” nie so ek kan nie submit nie.
Nuwe feature van SuperBru
As jy kak kies, blok hulle jou automaties.
😯
Dink maar weer oor jou keuses
Pietman wrote:
Ja, ET, selfs n groter d..s as enige iemand anders op Keo het vir HG as sy confidante geeien, ha ha, daai was nou n snaakse episode.
Hy het hom sy Lone Dove genoem oor hy so alleen die stryd probeer voer het teen al die lelike Stormers op Keo
@ Nama:
Ja wel, Chessie het darem n ‘ image’ gehad vir Spur….weet darem nie of ek so lekker sou eet as dik ouens soos Frans of Ollie op my afgluur terwyl ek besig is om n ‘ man size rump with wild garlic sauce ‘ en n bottel House Red te verorber nie!
@ nortierd:
HG het nog niks verander nie.
“…heilige heynekes hand…”
Probeer hy vir Skop namaak met die alliterasie?
156 @ Ashley:
Ek het in 2009, toe ek by Voldy weg is seker by verre die meeste Keo Dollars van almal gehad, onthou julle daai onsinnige kak en hare?
Het hy toe ooit iemand beloon vir hulle Keo Dollars, of kon mens dit later ruil vir iets, soos smack, crack of pot?
@ nortierd:
Hahaha…
Ek dink nie ons keuses sal so baie verskil nie…net die margins. Al die SH spanne behalwe Arg.
@ Pietman:
Hahaha…
ET, die mal psigiater van Philladelphia, USA…?
Hy is steeds befok omdat Trevor Manual hom nie na sy en Maria se troue toe genooi het nie. Hulle was glo huisvriende destyds in Rondebosch,of so het hy in my Voldydae beweer.
ET se albasters raas erg my bru!
Nama wrote:
Ek het ook vir hom een of 2
Second string Stormers stump superior Sharks
Sharks supporters still shocked simple silent
Fat Frans forfeits fame
nortierd @ 160
nee die arme man is in ñ toestand oor die image besigheid
Pietman wrote:
Ha ha
Daai ou is nou n regte aap. As ons dink die Sharksvarkies het nie n sin vir humor nie, hulle is regte grapgatte in vergelyking met hom.
Hy kon glad nie onderskeid tref tussen ironie, sarkasme, grappe en erns nie.
Sheldon Cooper tot die mag 10 000
Ashley wrote:
Jy weet die Japanese is life vir hulle snaakse advertensies, soos glow in the dark lip gloss en al sulke kak, hy beter bleddie mooi daai kontrak van hom lees
nortierd @ 172
GBS
Ek dink dis tyd dat jy miskien vir Fern nog n kans gee, shame, die Sharks moet darem ook n representative hier he om vir ons n bietjie te kan terug gee.
@ nortierd:
Wel, hy kan sy “image” ‘n moerse boost gee as hy “glow in the dark” kondome adverteer.
@ Nama:
Swart en wittes.
gbs @ 166
174 @ nortierd:
As hy onderneem om homself te gedra, dan het ek nie ‘n probleem nie.
Hy moet maar net vra om weer toegelaat te word, dan is dit OK met my.
Ek is nie hier om mense te ban nie, maar tot ‘n mate moet daar sekerlik orde wees, nie waar nie?
@Nama
Re Italia, ek wil eers sien of Parisse en Castrogiovanni nie miskien terug is nie, en onthou, Samoa kon nie eers verlede week wen teen Tonga nie
@ grootblousmile:
Gaan jy nie vir ons n sokker garingkie oopmaak nie, die wereldbeker begin vanaand?
Hier by my het alles tot stilstand gekom vir dit, doodstil in die buurt….
Maar ek sien Bafana is nie daar nie, Iran is wel….
Fikile, Bennie Jordaan, Majola en daai snare kyk ook seker dan hierdie keer tuis, soos ons gewone armgatte.
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