Bok team v Fiji

The Springbok side to take on Fiji in the quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup 2007 at 3pm SA time on Sunday in Marseille was announced today.

The Springboks (existing caps in brackets) and RWC Tests in italic:

15. Percy Montgomery (91) – 9
14. JP Pietersen (12) – 4
13. Jaque Fourie (34) – 7
12. Francois Steyn (13) – 4
11. Bryan Habana (32) – 4
10. Butch James (23) – 3
09. Fourie du Preez (35) – 3
08. Danie Rossouw (28) – 7
07. Juan Smith (38) – 8
06. Schalk Burger (35) – 5
05. Victor Matfield (64) – 8
04. Bakkies Botha (41) – 9
03. Jannie du Plessis (2) – 0
02. John Smit (71) (C) – 9
01. Os du Randt (77) – 13

Replacements:

16. Gary Botha (12) – 1
17. Gurthro Steenkamp (12) – 1
18. Andre Pretorius (29) – 4
19. Johann Muller (19) – 2
20. Wikus van Heerden (12) – 4
21. Ruan Pienaar (17) – 3
22. Wynand Olivier (19) – 2

Bok coach Jake White recalled Bakkies Botha and No. 8 Danie Rossouw and unveiled South Africa’s most experienced ever Test lineup for Sunday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Fiji.

White made four personnel changes and a positional switch in an expanded 23-man squad Friday, giving tighthead prop CJ van der Linde until the morning of the match to prove his fitness on his bruised knee.

Van der Linde was named in the starting 15, with Gurthro Steenkamp and Jannie du Plessis bracketed together on the bench.

“As you can see I’ve mentioned 23 because I want to see what happens with CJ first,” White said.

“I’ll give him time and if he feels right to play, we’ll play him – if it’s not detrimental to the next week.”

It has subsequently been confirmed that CJ van der Linde will not play. Jannie du Plessis starts with Gurthro Steenkamp on the bench.

JP Pietersen returns on the wing and Rossouw returns at No. 8, with Schalk Burger reverting to the flank in a punishing back-row combination that also includes Juan Smith.

A win over Fiji would put South Africa into a semifinal against either Argentina or Scotland.

Captain John Smit said there was no chance South Africa would underestimate Fiji, which advanced on a shock 38-34 win over Wales to finish second in Group B.

“The most important thing for us this weekend is it’s a massive privilege to be a quarter-final of a World Cup, no matter who you’re playing,” he said.

“Any team that’s got into that quarter-final position is doing one or two things right.

“The occasion is what we’ve got to pay respect to. It’s an extremely important part of where we want to go. It’s the knockout stage, so in terms of motivation, it’s very important.”

The Springbok starting 15 has a combined 639 caps, beating the national record for the most capped starting lineup of 609 set against Samoa in the group stage here.

Prop Os du Randt, the only survivor from South Africa’s 1995 World Cup winning squad, is also the only member of the 15 to have played against Fiji: a 43-18 win for the Springboks in 1996.

South Africa’s biggest win in a World Cup quarter-final was its 42-14 win over Samoa in ’95, the only time it has gone on to the final.

Du Randt said the Springboks were not focussed on the score, only the result. He said South Africa would aim to keep it tight and cut down Fiji’s chances of running with the ball.

Match Facts

Only once before – in 1996 – have the two teams met in a Test match.

SA won 43-18 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. The try count was 5-2.

André Joubert was the top point scorer with 13 points.

The Springboks have played only one Test at this venue – in 2002 – which they lost 10-30 against France.

Other interesting facts and figures about the game:

Once again, the team for Sunday will be the most experienced Springbok side ever chosen with a collective caps tally of 639 for the starting 15. The previous record was set in South Africa’s first pool match in this World Cup against Samoa (609 caps).

It will be Jannie du Plessis’ first RWC appearance should he take the field from the bench, while Os du Randt will equal Joost van der Westhuizen’s record of 14 RWC appearances. Os is also the only current Springbok who played in the 1996 Test against Fiji.

John Smit will lead the Springboks for the 46th time in Test matches.

Percy Montgomery will no doubt improve his various scoring records. He is currently the top point scorer in RWC 2007 with 67 points.

Two players need one try to become the most prolific try scorer in their respective positions – Os du Randt to become the only Springbok prop to score six tries in Tests and Schalk Burger to be the sole record holder for most tries as a flank.

Bryan Habana, with six tournament tries, needs two tries to equal the RWC Tournament record set in 1999 by Jonah Lomu of New Zealand. The only other top try scorer who will be in action this weekend is Drew Mitchell from Australia (seven tries) who will be a substitute in their match against England.

Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha will extend their record of most Tests as a lock pairing to 34 Tests.

The Springboks’ best performance in a Quarter-Final match at RWC was in 1995 when Western Samoa was beaten by 42-14.

Sunday’s referee is Alan Lewis of Ireland. He officiated as referee in five previous Tests involving the Springboks. South Africa won two of those Tests, lost 2 while one Test was drawn.