Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has made three changes to the match 22 for Saturday’s second Test against England at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg.
The only change to the starting 15 is at fullback, where Pat Lambie replaces the injured Zane Kirchner.
Lambie replaced Kirchner after half-time in last week's 22-17 win in the first test in Durban and will play in his 13th Test for South Africa.
On the bench, Werner Kruger comes in for the injured prop Coenie Oosthuizen, while Bjorn Basson takes over from Lambie amongst the replacements.
Coach Heineke Meyer said he was looking for continuity and there was no need to make any wholesale changes.
“We still have not had a lot of preparation time, but I’m pleased to have seen how the players have been getting stuck in – on the training field and during our off-field sessions.
“This weekend will be a big challenge yet again against a good England side, but our focus is still on ourselves. We need to show further improvement from last weekend and have to make a step up this weekend.
“We have confidence in all the players in our squad and that is why Pat, Werner and Bjorn have slotted in easily. Everyone knows what is needed this weekend and they have been very sharp at training. We now need to translate that to the match on Saturday.”
The Springbok team to face England in Johannesburg is:
Position Name Province Test Caps
15 Pat Lambie The Sharks 12
14 JP Pietersen The Sharks 43
13 Jean de Villiers (captain) DHL Western Province 73
12 Frans Steyn The Sharks 48
11 Bryan Habana DHL Western Province 75
10 Morné Steyn Vodacom Blue Bulls 35
9 Francois Hougaard Vodacom Blue Bulls 16
8 Pierre Spies Vodacom Blue Bulls 48
7 Willem Alberts The Sharks 10
6 Marcell Coetzee The Sharks 1
5 Juandré Kruger Vodacom Blue Bulls 1
4 Eben Etzebeth DHL Western Province 1
3 Jannie du Plessis The Sharks 31
2 Bismarck du Plessis (vice-captain) The Sharks 43
1 Tendai Mtawarira The Sharks 33
Bench
16 Adriaan Strauss Toyota FS Cheetahs 10
17 Werner Kruger Vodacom Blue Bulls 2
18 Flip van der Merwe Vodacom Blue Bulls 12
19 Keegan Daniel The Sharks 2
20 Ruan Pienaar Ulster, Ireland 52
21 Wynand Olivier Vodacom Blue Bulls 35
22 Bjorn Basson Vodacom Blue Bulls 6
Record watch
• The Springboks have won the last eight consecutive Tests against England. This is a new record for South Africa against England.
• The last Test match at Coca-Cola Park was in 2009 when the Springboks lost the third Test against the British & Irish Lions in their biggest defeat at this venue (9-28).
• This will be the 44th Test at this venue. South Africa’s record here is: P 43; W 30; L 11; D 2; Win% 70.
• The biggest win by South Africa was against Argentina in 2008 (63-9). The Springboks have scored 140 tries and conceded 58 at Coca-Cola Park.
• South Africa and England played only two Tests at this venue before. In 1972 England won 18-9 and in 1984 South Africa won 35-9.
• The starting 15 boast a combined total of 470 Test caps – 168 amongst the forwards and 302 amongst the backs.
• Alain Rolland of Ireland is the referee. In the 13 Springbok Tests he’s handled, South Africa won seven and lost six. Rolland’s 13 Tests are the most Tests involving the Springboks by any international referee.
• Bryan Habana is South Africa’s most capped Springbok wing with 74 Tests and also most experienced player in the squad with 75 Test caps. He is the Springbok top try scorer with 40 career tries in Tests and all were scored as a wing. He also holds the Springbok record for most career tries in Tests against England – six. Bryan has played in nine Tests against England, together with Francois Steyn, the most of any player in this squad.
• With Morné Steyn’s try in the first Test in Durban, he became South Africa’s top try scorer as a flyhalf with seven career tries. Morné needs two more Tests as flyhalf to equal Butch James’ record of most capped Springbok flyhalf with 37 appearances. This Test will be Morne’s 24th consecutive Test of which only one Test was not at flyhalf.
• Bismarck du Plessis shares the Springbok record for most tries in Tests as a hooker of five with James Dalton and John Smit.
• Pierre Spies is now South Africa’s most capped No 8 with 43 Tests in this position. Pierre holds the record for most Test tries as a No 8. – seven.
• Jean de Villiers will become South Africa’s most capped Springbok centre with 59 caps in this position. Jean scored his 20th Test try for the Springboks last Saturday in Durban.
• Francois Steyn is the only player that has played in all eight consecutive wins against England and, together with Bryan Habana, the only other player in the squad with nine Test caps against England.
• Springbok career record holders at Coca-Cola Park are: Percy Montgomery – 86 points and 18 penalty goals; Chester Williams – eight tries; Butch James – 12 conversions; Joel Stransky and Jannie de Beer – two drop goals each.
• Springbok Test match record holders at Coca-Cola Park are: Gavin Johnson – 28 points; Chester Williams and Jongi Nokwe – four tries each; Butch James – nine conversions; Percy Montgomery and Louis Koen – six penalty goals each; Joel Stransky and Jannie de Beer – two drop goals each.
• The first successful penalty goal by South Africa in this Test will be the 800th Test penalty goal in Springbok history.
• Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis will play together in their record 22nd Test as brothers.
Note: Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer does not have a Twitter account or a Facebook page. Media are urged to disregard any comments made by people impersonating Meyer on such channels.
Issued by SARU Corporate Affairs
