Springboks Make Eight Changes to Face Samoa

The Springboks have made eight changes to the starting line-up and included two new players on the bench to meet the challenge of a talented Samoan team in their second match of the Rugby World Cup at Villa Park in Birmingham on Saturday.

Adriaan Strauss, who will win his 50th cap, is the starting hooker, while Duane Vermeulen will make his first Test appearance of the year in the No 8 jersey as coach Heyneke Meyer reacted swiftly to the shock of defeat against Japan.

Willie le Roux, JP Pietersen and Damian De Allende return in the backline – with skipper Jean de Villiers shifting to outside centre – while there are new halfbacks in Handré Pollard and Fourie du Preez.

In the pack, Eben Etzebeth returns to the starting line-up with Vermeulen and Strauss. On the bench, Schalk Brits and Frans Malherbe make their first appearance on a Rugby World Cup teamsheet.

“It’s been a very tough week after the massive disappointment of last weekend and we owe our supporters a winning performance on Saturday,” said Meyer.

“The last few days have been a time for retrospection and the team this week has been selected specifically with Samoa in mind, as we know we’ll have to be at our very best to succeed.

“They will pose a massive challenge and I think it’s fair to say that it’s the biggest game of the season for us. They have a very strong team with players plying their trade all over the world.

“Four years ago in the World Cup pool match in New Zealand, the Samoans pushed the Boks close and we’re expecting more of the same this weekend. It will be brutally physical and we have to be 100% focused and ready.”

Meyer congratulated Strauss on his 50th cap: “Adriaan is not only a great ambassador for South Africa and the Springboks, but also someone who isn’t shy to put in the dirty work without saying too much.

“He leads by example and has shown a lot of resilience in coming through trying times. It’s well-deserved and a privilege only a very small percentage of Springboks have achieved. He is a true leader and was an inspirational vice-captain of this team in 2012 and 2013.”

Meyer said it’s also very good to see Vermeulen back in the team. It will be the current South African Rugby Player of the Year’s first Test of 2015 after he underwent neck surgery early in July.

“Duane has been one of the stalwarts of this team and it’s great to have him back in the mix,” said Meyer.

“He is one of the best loose forwards in the world and apart from being a superb ball-carrier and also a great line-out option, he is also good on the ground and brings leadership to the team.

“We decided to also give Willie, Damian, Frans and Schalk Brits, who was impressive in the second half against Argentina in Buenos Aires last month, a well-deserved run this week to bring some energy and unpredictability to the team. Jesse Kriel and Lood de Jager have proven themselves this season and we will need them to also make a massive impact off the bench on Saturday.

“It means some players have dropped out of the squad altogether but this is a 31-man campaign and they will have other chances, but we needed to make changes after Saturday’s performance.

Willem Alberts was the only player not considered because of injury – he picked up a calf strain during the captain’s run in Brighton last Friday and will be reassessed early next week.

The Springbok team to face Samoa in Birmingham is:

Position/Name/Franchise or Club/Test Caps/Test points

15. Willie le Roux Toyota FS Cheetahs 28 caps 45 points
14. JP Pietersen Cell C Sharks 61 caps 90 points
13. Jean de Villiers (captain) DHL Stormers 108 caps 35 points
12. Damian De Allende DHL Stormers 7 caps 0 points
11. Bryan Habana Toulon 111 caps 295 points
10. Handré Pollard Vodacom Bulls 14 caps 100 points
9. Fourie du Preez Suntory 71 caps 75 points
8. Duane Vermeulen DHL Stormers 29 caps 10 points
7. Schalk Burger DHL Stormers 80 caps 70 points
6. Francois Louw Bath 37 caps 30 points
5. Victor Matfield (vice-captain) Vodacom Bulls 124 caps 35 points
4. Eben Etzebeth DHL Stormers 38 caps 5 points
3. Jannie du Plessis Cell C Sharks 65 caps 5 points
2. Adriaan Strauss Vodacom Bulls 49 caps 30 points
1. Tendai Mtawarira Cell C Sharks 69 caps 10 points
Replacements:
16. Schalk Brits Saracens 8 caps 0 points
17. Trevor Nyakane Vodacom Bulls 17 caps 5 points
18. Frans Malherbe DHL Stormers 6 caps 0 points
19. Lood de Jager Toyota Cheetahs 13 caps 20 points
20. Siya Kolisi DHL Stormers 12 caps 0 points
21. Ruan Pienaar Ulster 85 caps 135 points
22. Pat Lambie Cell C Sharks 45 caps 129 points
23. Jesse Kriel Vodacom Bulls 5 tests 10 points

Stats and facts:

•This match will be the ninth Test between South Africa and Samoa since their first match 20 years ago in Johannesburg. The Springboks are still unbeaten against Samoa with an average score of 48-12. The closest Samoa has come to a victory was in the 2007 RWC in Albany, New Zealand. On that occasion the Springboks won a close fought match with 13-5.

•The referee is Wayne Barnes of England. It will be his 11th Test involving South Africa. Of the previous 10 South Africa have won seven and lost three. His last appearance was in August 2014 against New Zealand in Johannesburg which the Boks won 27-25.

Source: SARugby (republished with kind permission)