In for Coetzee: Louw (left)
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has made two changes to his pack for their Rugby Championship clash with New Zealand in Dunedin on Saturday.
Lock Flip van der Merwe replaces the suspended Eben Etzebeth while Bath's Francois Louw comes in for Marcell Coetzee on the openside flank.
There are four more changes on the bench, where Coetzee joins Dean Greyling, Andries Bekker and midfield back Juan de Jongh.
"The New Zealanders are good on the ground which is why we decided to go for a specialist openside flank in Francois," said Meyer.
"Marcell has been very good this season and has played a lot of rugby, but in this match we feel he will be more useful as an impact option."
Jannie du Plessis has been named at tighthead prop despite struggling with a hamstring niggle. Meyer said the Springboks' medical team is working very hard on the injured players and that Du Plessis will be given until Friday to fully shake off his injury, but if he fails to recover in time, Pat Cilliers will start.
"We will not take any chances with injured players and we have time to get him and Pat (Cilliers) match ready," said Meyer.
Greyling will be on the bench to provide prop cover, while Bekker takes over from Van der Merwe in the number 18 shirt. De Jongh comes in for Lwazi Mvovo on the bench.
South Africa: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jean de Villiers (capt), 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Dean Greyling, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Johan Goosen, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Pat Lambie.
Date: Saturday, September 15
Kick-off: 19:35 (08:35 BST, 07:35 GMT)
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Referee: George Clancy (IRE)
Comments
saffastormer says...
Perhaps HM needs to re-think his BlueBulls game plan and see where the Bulls are lying on the Currie cup table
Posted 08:50 12th September 2012
Ulrich says...
I think we will probably lose by between 12-16 points but I am hoping that regardless, we put a good showing and that Goosen can get about 25 minutes to play on Saturday.
Posted 08:48 12th September 2012
Ferdie says...
a job for someone - how many of this sa team were in the 22 last time they played nz and won 18-5? depending on selection there may be only three, but no more than five, from the ab 22 that day - Dagg, Messam, Whitelock, Mealamu and Woodcock.
Posted 08:42 12th September 2012
zulusaar56 says...
How on earth can M justify dropping Coetzee, he has been the stand out player for the last three tests!
Posted 08:35 12th September 2012
bloemboy says...
Just in case we actually start playing well, lets take our onlydecent player from last week and drop him. Lets also persevere with the cr@p we have at 10, 13 and 15 because we need to have consistent selection.
What would hve happened if HM had picked the rright team forthe first test against England? Surely its wiser to have consistency in a winning culture. If you are going to build a team, make certain that you pick one tha can play to the plan you devise and that can build a long term winning brand of rugby. It is obvious that a style needs to adapt to rule changes and the ever evolving conter plans by opposing teams so why picka team that is only capable of playing to one plan. The most frustratingpart of thisis that there are some really excellent players in there that are having their edges blunted in the curren team. give Coetzee and Etzbeth a year or so and hey wll play to the good old blue bull plan. It worked for Naas so surely it will work today!!! lol
Posted 08:16 12th September 2012
Carpelone says...
How long will you persist in this, Mr Meyer?
Posted 08:06 12th September 2012
rugby_phile says...
I for one am not underestimating the Saffas, still believe that if both teams play to their cababilities the ABs should win comfortable (home advantage and all), but unless they do that this, SA is the one team that can bring them down. Can't wait. ABs by 16 would be my guess, but wit reservations..
Posted 07:35 12th September 2012
Martinmarais78 says...
Cant HM, PLEASE take Morning Stain with him and go coach the Sharks????
Blue bull crazy HM, is starting to move ever closer to PDV legacy...
Bring in Lambie at least on 15!
Posted 07:34 12th September 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Louw is biting his nails. Wonder why? Bad career move playing first game with the squad against in form ABs at home.
Posted 07:17 12th September 2012
cuw3100 says...
LOL isn't coaching and sports-writing like chalk & cheese :)
this from the PR XV of last week :
"....6 Marcell Coetzee (South Africa): Robust and resilient, Coetzee has taken to the Test arena like a duck to water. The more comfortable he gets, the more physical attributes he brings to the game as the Bok rookie dominated the collisions and tackled like a demon (also 11 hits). But his impact was sorely missed when strangely subbed by coach Heyneke Meyer...."
also the impressive young duo Goosen & Lambie to warm the bench... again.
Posted 07:15 12th September 2012
new_j4a says...
Not a team that on paper can pull off an upset....but it is a funny shaped ball...so maybe, just maybe? (Please excuse the Trinats imitations but at the moment Saffa rugby has little else but blind faith....and of course a prayer or two from the man covered in bear grease and dancing around his masculine campfire...ManWarrior. And let's not forget the wisdom of JayStarr who will one day be on the board of selectors if the decline continues...and with martinmarais in charge of Sharks selection...and BokvanDam? We need him as the citing commissioner, I think. Then those Kiwis will be sorry that they relied on raw rugby talent alone)
ABs by less than 35, I hope.
Posted 07:03 12th September 2012