Peter de Villiers announces revamped Springboks match 22 for third 2011 Tri Nations encounter
Springboks head coach, Peter de Villiers, has announced his match day 22 for the third 2011 Tri Nations encounter. De Villiers has announced a strong looking Springboks squad, which was strengthened
by the return of several of their first choice players on Thursday, August 11.
Springboks are yet to register their first win in the 2011 Tri Nations tournament as they take on the Wallabies at the Kings Park Stadium, Durban on Saturday, August 13. Boks lost both of their
away from home encounters. The All Blacks handed over them a thumping 40 – 7 defeat.
Commenting on the occasion, De Villiers said, “We still have a number of leading players unavailable through injury but this is the strongest squad we have been able to choose from since 2009.”
De Villiers has named 13 changes in the squad, which took the field against the All Blacks. The new squad announced by De Villiers, is considered to be the most experienced Springboks squad
in history, as the squad’s caps combine to form the figure of 810.
De Villiers further added, “This team has vast experience and a strong leadership core, but that counts for nothing at kick off on Saturday”
The match 22 day 22 includes the duo of the back row forward Heinrich Brüssow and scrum half Fourie du Preez, who will play their first international after two years and a year respectively.
The duo has replaced Deon Stegmann and Ruan Pienaar in the squad.
Stegmann and Pienaar have been dropped from the squad. Similarly, Springboks have a new backs combination all together, which features Frans Steyn at fullback position, JP Pietersen at the
right-winger positions, Jaque Fourie at outside centre, Jean de Villiers at the inside centre, and Bryan Habana at the right centre position.
Morne Steyn, who played as fullback in their last encounter, has been moved to the bench, as the experienced and world cup-winning fly half Butch James, resumes his duty at the fly position
for the Springboks.
The forwards line with the return of the experienced players has empowered the Springboks scrum house. Locks duo of Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha will start the match, alongside Jannie
du Plessis, John Smit and Beast Mtawarira in the front row forwards.
Gerhard Mostert and Jean Deysel have retained their place in the match day 22, as they start the match from the bench. While Gio Aplon is given another chance and he will also start the match
from the bench.
The Springboks squad for their August 13, Tri Nations clash against the Wallabies includes,
Starting XV:
15 Frans Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Danie Rossouw, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (c),
1 Beast Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Gurthro Steenkamp, 18 Gerhard Mostert, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Morne Steyn, 22 Gio Aplon.
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