Boks duo to debut against All Blacks
Source: Agencies |
August 18, 2010, Wednesday
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SCRUMHALF Francois Hougaard and lock Flip van der Merwe will make their first starts in a much-changed South Africa side for the Tri-Nations test against New Zealand in Soweto on Saturday.
The All Blacks, who need just a point from their last two games to claim their 10th Tri-Nations title, brought in scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan and prop Ben Franks - who replaces younger brother Owen - in the only changes to their starting lineup yesterday.
South Africa coach Peter De Villiers made seven player changes and one positional switch to the struggling Springboks after the 13-30 defeat to Australia on July 24 - the third successive loss for the defending Tri-Nations champion.
Wing JP Pietersen, centers Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh, flanker Juan Smith and prop Jannie du Plessis were also recalled by De Villiers yesterday.
Gio Aplon moves from wing to fullback in place of the injured Zane Kirchner and experienced flanker Smith, a World Cup winner in 2007, plays his first test since September 2009.
Injured hip
Doubt over Danie Rossouw's injured hip opened a slot for Van der Merwe, while Hougaard, twice a replacement, will earn his first start for South Africa in the No. 9 position after making his name as a wing for provincial team the Bulls.
"Francois is a guy who excites me," De Villiers said of the 22-year-old Hougaard. "He has got a very strong head. He's the kind of guy you can go to war with.
"I am, at this moment, very pleased with the focus of the guys. We are focusing on this game only and I hope we can turn the tables," he said.
Lock and vice-captain Victor Matfield added: "We know we weren't as good as we should have been overseas. We were 10 to 15 percent off our game and we need to fix everything. We can get a lot of things right and get people to believe in this team again."
Cowan is back at No. 9 for the unbeaten All Blacks in place of Piri Weepu after recovering from a rib injury, and Franks returns at tighthead prop for his third test start. Weepu drops to the bench.
Front-rower John Afoa and versatile back Israel Dagg were also brought in among the replacements by coach Graham Henry.
The All Blacks, who need just a point from their last two games to claim their 10th Tri-Nations title, brought in scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan and prop Ben Franks - who replaces younger brother Owen - in the only changes to their starting lineup yesterday.
South Africa coach Peter De Villiers made seven player changes and one positional switch to the struggling Springboks after the 13-30 defeat to Australia on July 24 - the third successive loss for the defending Tri-Nations champion.
Wing JP Pietersen, centers Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh, flanker Juan Smith and prop Jannie du Plessis were also recalled by De Villiers yesterday.
Gio Aplon moves from wing to fullback in place of the injured Zane Kirchner and experienced flanker Smith, a World Cup winner in 2007, plays his first test since September 2009.
Injured hip
Doubt over Danie Rossouw's injured hip opened a slot for Van der Merwe, while Hougaard, twice a replacement, will earn his first start for South Africa in the No. 9 position after making his name as a wing for provincial team the Bulls.
"Francois is a guy who excites me," De Villiers said of the 22-year-old Hougaard. "He has got a very strong head. He's the kind of guy you can go to war with.
"I am, at this moment, very pleased with the focus of the guys. We are focusing on this game only and I hope we can turn the tables," he said.
Lock and vice-captain Victor Matfield added: "We know we weren't as good as we should have been overseas. We were 10 to 15 percent off our game and we need to fix everything. We can get a lot of things right and get people to believe in this team again."
Cowan is back at No. 9 for the unbeaten All Blacks in place of Piri Weepu after recovering from a rib injury, and Franks returns at tighthead prop for his third test start. Weepu drops to the bench.
Front-rower John Afoa and versatile back Israel Dagg were also brought in among the replacements by coach Graham Henry.
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