Fly-half: Pat Lambie
Related links
Teams
Also see
South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has named Pat Lambie at fly-half for their opening November Test against Ireland at Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
The 22-year-old's inclusion at pivot in the place of the injured Johan Goosen is one of only three changes to the team that started in the Springboks' last Test, against New Zealand in Soweto. The other two are also forced by injury.
JP Pietersen returns at right wing while Juandré Kruger takes over at lock, respectively for Bryan Habana and Andries Bekker, who were both ruled out of the tour because of injury.
"I'm excited to see what Pat can bring to the team," said Springbok coach Meyer.
"He played very well in the last few weeks of the Absa Currie Cup and hopefully he can bring that momentum with him on Saturday.
"It's also good to have JP back. He's had a great season and will want to finish the season on a high. At lock, there has been strong competition for the No 5 jersey all season and now Juandré gets an opportunity again."
For the first time, the Springboks have named an eight-man replacement bench, in line with the new laws that determine a full front-row of two specialist props and a hooker have to be selected.
Returning to Springbok duty for the first time since 2008 is Schalk Brits, who will start on the bench next to CJ van der Linde and Pat Cilliers. Should Brits make an appearance, it will be his first Test for South Africa since 2008 while Van der Linde has not appeared for the team since the 2011 World Cup.
"Schalk is an explosive player who can bring something special off the bench," said Meyer. "CJ is very experienced and knows the conditions here quite well, as he played for Leinster for two seasons," said Meyer.
Meyer said the match would be a major Test in trying conditions for his young team. A temperature of around five degrees is forecast for Saturday afternoon, while winds and a 25 per cent chance of showers are also predicted.
"I've said from the outset that I'd like to see which of the players can handle the Northern Hemisphere conditions on this tour, as it will be the same for the Rugby World Cup in 2015," said Meyer.
"We'll be facing an Ireland team that is never an easy opponent in Dublin. The Springboks have only won one of their last four Tests here and since they lost at Aviva Stadium against South Africa in November 2010, they have recorded a number of good victories at their home ground.
"They will also be desperate to get back to winning ways after winning two of their eight Tests this season, which, to my mind, is not a true reflection of how good the Irish really are. But we're in a similar situation and would like to start this tour on a positive note."
Furthermore, Meyer confirmed today that Leinster prop Heinke van der Merwe has been called up to the Springbok squad for the duration of the tour. He played in his only Test for South Africa against Wales in November 2007, and he toured with the Springboks at the end of the 2009 season.
Gurthrö Steenkamp, who joined the squad on Tuesday evening, is struggling with a light niggle. Van der Merwe's call-up provides extra cover at loosehead prop.
"Heinke has played for South Africa before and is based in Dublin, making it easy for him to join the squad. I've been following his career and he has been playing well for Leinster, who are the Heineken Cup champions," added Meyer.
South Africa: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Pat Cilliers, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Morné Steyn, 22 Juan de Jongh, 23 Lwazi Mvovo.
Date: Saturday, November 10
Kick-off: 17:30 GMT
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Steve Walsh (Australia), Luke Pierce (England)
Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
Comments
spike19 says...
Danger all over the pitch but the backrow looks particularly menacing and very well balanced. The combination of Alberts / Louw / Vermeulan will be a great source of continuity for the Boks especially with stalwarts Burger, Brussow, Spies and Smith all injured.
They are a real unit and all bring something different to the table, they are out and out specialists in there positions and seem to compliment each others styles with Alberts as the wrecking ball, Louw the wily pilferer and Vermeulan a mixture of the two and all titans on defence. Then of course there is the hugely dynamic and energetic Marcell Coetzee warming the bench who will surely want to add to Ireland's woe's if he can in the second half.
Whoever Kidney selects will have to front up its a massive challenge, one which the likes of Ferris and O'Brien will be sorely missed. However its a opportunity for those fringe players like O'Mahony, Henry, Henderson and McLaughlin to prove they are test standard players.
Roll on Saturday / Ireland by 3!!!!!!!
Posted 12:56 07th November 2012
new_j4a says...
I am nervous for the Boks...here's hoping that we maintain discipline and fire.
Posted 12:43 07th November 2012
PREEST says...
This only says one thing. That the coaches aren't coaching SA, the rugby public are. Meyer hasn't exactly picked the 'pick of the crop' this year, and is now only making this decision because (and he shouldn't have needed the SA public to tell him this) it is what the public want. Lambie should have been a starter from the very beginning of the Rugby Championship. Well now he gets his chance, let's hope he does the job.
Posted 12:27 07th November 2012
philipjfry says...
Just read this article from the Irish Times: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/1107/1224326235809.html
Head in hands moment.
Posted 12:25 07th November 2012
martinmarais78 says...
Good, except Juan de Jongh for Taute.
Been VERY quit from our Durban folks after the final. Wonder if we would hear any Shark comments again, especially from you Naikokkie? Sure he is still running with his tail between his legs after the Currie cup final!! :)
Posted 12:24 07th November 2012
philipjfry says...
I'm sure Brits's inclusion will be universally applauded, not just because of his obvious talent but because the Springboks have lacked a genuine impact player since Alberts moved into the starting line-up at the beginning of the season.
Posted 12:13 07th November 2012
carpelone says...
Not the best Bok side, at least what I expected. Can't believe Kirchner still makes it. Not sure why HM persists in playing Taute at 13 when he was quite clear that he prefers the full back position.
Glad to see Lambie in charge, let's see if he is Test Level.
Or maybe HM is taking a scientific approach, changing only one element in the experiment to see the specific effect.
Posted 11:54 07th November 2012