Springbok team to play Italy

The Springbok team to play Italy on Saturday 21 June at Newlands has been named.

– Frans Steyn starts at flyhalf ahead of Butch James (rested).
– Luke Watson starts ahead of Schalk Burger who is on the bench.
– Odwa Ndungane makes his debut on the wing.
– Schalk Brits, on the bench, earns his first Bok cap.
– Gcobani Bobo makes his first Springbok appearance in four years.
– Ryan Kankowski starts at No 8 in Pierre Spies’s absence.
– CJ van der Linde replaces BJ Botha at tighthead prop.
– Joe van Niekerk warms the bench.

Peter de Villiers (Bok Coach):

“I’ve chatted to Frans about it at length and he’s told me he wants to play 10. But I also have to do what’s best for the country, and I’m glad to say this is a rugby decision. We have to start looking at what’s available. Butch is our No 1 flyhalf, but we also have to manage him going forward.

“This is a great opportunity to phase Schalk in slowly. He’s a brilliant player and is going to be so important for us in the big games. Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield John Smit … anybody who knows anything about sport will admit you need to have these players on the field.”

Details

Date: Saturday, June 21 2008
Venue: Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 15.00SA (13.00 GMT)
Referee: George Clancy (IRE)
Assistant referees: Lyndon Bray (NZ), David Changleng (SCO)
TMO: Graham Hughes (ENG)

Springboks
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