Tough debut for Matfield
Mike Greenaway
June 21 2007 at 07:20AM
Jake White on Wednesday announced a starting line-up to play New Zealand that showed minimal changes to the side that beat Australia last week, with Gary Botha at hooker for injured John Smit, Os du Randt at loosehead prop for injured Gurthro Steenkamp, and Victor Matfield taking over the leadership reins.
Bismarck du Plessis, the reserve hooker, is the only uncapped player in the squad.
Bob Skinstad at No 8 and possibly captain? He is not even on the bench, in spite of assistant coach Gert Smal discussing him as a captaincy candidate on Monday. Frans Steyn starting for Ashwin Willemse? It was never going to happen.
Whatever the case, it is a rock-solid Springbok team and one that has the ingredients to cook up a storm in the Kings Park cauldron.
But the line-up could well change before kick off. White intimated that some players been picked on the prediction that they will be over niggles by Saturday.
"A lot could happen between now and kick off," White admitted. "Right now this is the best team we can put on the field to play the All Blacks, but adjustments might have to be made."
The players in doubt are Juan Smith and Pierre Spies, and if one or both fail to recover the door will be open for Skinstad, Danie Rossouw and Pedrie Wannenburg, White said.
"Skinstad was certainly considered for this match but Pierre always had the inside track," White said.
The captaincy, too, was never an issue for White, in spite of rumours to the contrary.
"It was an easy decision. Victor is very experienced and he has 58 Test caps and he captained the Bulls to the Super 14 title. He also has large support base of Bulls players in the team to assist him. And he will need their support - there is no tougher match in which to make your captaincy debut."
White said the loss of Smit - his captain for the last 42 Tests - was not ideal but that he will get to see how the Boks cope without a captain who has been an institution in the team.
But the coach added that the return of Du Randt is all the more timeous because of the departure of Smit.
"It is amazing how these things work. You have one vastly experienced player falling out and another coming back in and that is great news when you have a hooker starting his first Test. Gary (Botha) will be very relieved that he will have Os there beside him."
White noted that the growing international hype and interest in this match was both pleasing and motivational.
Discuss Add this link to... Bury
Mike Greenaway
June 21 2007 at 07:20AM
Jake White on Wednesday announced a starting line-up to play New Zealand that showed minimal changes to the side that beat Australia last week, with Gary Botha at hooker for injured John Smit, Os du Randt at loosehead prop for injured Gurthro Steenkamp, and Victor Matfield taking over the leadership reins.
Bismarck du Plessis, the reserve hooker, is the only uncapped player in the squad.
Bob Skinstad at No 8 and possibly captain? He is not even on the bench, in spite of assistant coach Gert Smal discussing him as a captaincy candidate on Monday. Frans Steyn starting for Ashwin Willemse? It was never going to happen.
Whatever the case, it is a rock-solid Springbok team and one that has the ingredients to cook up a storm in the Kings Park cauldron.
But the line-up could well change before kick off. White intimated that some players been picked on the prediction that they will be over niggles by Saturday.
"A lot could happen between now and kick off," White admitted. "Right now this is the best team we can put on the field to play the All Blacks, but adjustments might have to be made."
The players in doubt are Juan Smith and Pierre Spies, and if one or both fail to recover the door will be open for Skinstad, Danie Rossouw and Pedrie Wannenburg, White said.
"Skinstad was certainly considered for this match but Pierre always had the inside track," White said.
The captaincy, too, was never an issue for White, in spite of rumours to the contrary.
"It was an easy decision. Victor is very experienced and he has 58 Test caps and he captained the Bulls to the Super 14 title. He also has large support base of Bulls players in the team to assist him. And he will need their support - there is no tougher match in which to make your captaincy debut."
White said the loss of Smit - his captain for the last 42 Tests - was not ideal but that he will get to see how the Boks cope without a captain who has been an institution in the team.
But the coach added that the return of Du Randt is all the more timeous because of the departure of Smit.
"It is amazing how these things work. You have one vastly experienced player falling out and another coming back in and that is great news when you have a hooker starting his first Test. Gary (Botha) will be very relieved that he will have Os there beside him."
White noted that the growing international hype and interest in this match was both pleasing and motivational.
Discuss Add this link to... Bury
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