The Springboks take on Samoa at 4pm (SA time) on Sunday in their first game of Rugby World Cup 2007.
JP Pietersen has been selected on the wing and John Smit makes his return for the Boks after being out since the Tri Nations with a hamstring injury. Bismarck du Plessis takes Gary Botha’s place on the bench and Francois Steyn will look to make an impact as a replacement.
Event: RWC 2007 Pool A
Date: Sunday 9 September 2007
Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris
Kick-off: 16.00 SA (14.00 GMT)
Referee: Paul Honiss (NZ)
Touch judges: Chris White (Eng), Lyndon Bray (NZ)
TMO: Bryce Lawrence (NZ)
The Teams:
[TABLE=32]
Player Profiles:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Facts and Figures:
– The Springboks are facing Samoa for the sixth time on Sunday. Two of the encounters were during the Rugby World Cup tournament. In 1995 the Springboks trounced the Samoans in the quarterfinal, 42-14. In 2003 the Springboks won in a pool match by 60-10.
– South Africa’s overall record against Samoa : Played 5; Won 5; Points for 257 and points against 58. An average score of 51-12. The biggest winning margin against Samoa is 52, when South Africa won 60-8 in 1995 in the first test between the two countries.
– It will be the fifth time that South Africa will play in a test at Parc des Princes. The four previous tests were all against France with South Africa winning three of those tests.
– The selectors have chosen the most experienced Springbok side of all time, with a combined 609 test caps for the starting 15. The previous most experienced team was against Scotland in Durban in 2006 when the total combined caps were 535.
– Of the matchday XV, 6 make their RWC debuts. None of the reserves played in a RWC before.
– Os du Randt will be the first Springbok forward to play in three RWC tournaments, the previous two in 1995 and in 1999. Joost van der Westhuizen is the only other Springbok to have played in three RWC tournaments. Os is also the second most capped Springbok in RWC tests with ten tests, four less than Joost van der Westhuizen. He will also be the only Springbok with four test appearances against Samoa.
– John Smit will lead the Springboks for a record 43rd time and will also improve on his record of 65 tests as a hooker.
– Percy Montgomery could improve his existing records of 768 points in tests, 128 conversions in tests, 128 penalty goals in tests. He will improve his record 72 tests as a fullback.
– Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha will extend their record of most tests as a lock pairing to 32 tests.
– André Pretorius needs one conversion in this test to equal Gavin Johnson’s career record of eight conversions against Samoa. He could also equal the penalty career records of Gavin Johnson and Derick Hougaard against Samoa should he kick one penalty goal.
– This test will be Jake White’s 47th test as head coach of the Springboks.
– Saturday’s referee is Paul Honiss of New Zealand. He was referee in seven previous tests involving the Springboks. Of those seven the Springboks won only two.
Previous Results:
09/06/2007: SA v Samoa [35-08] Ellis Park, Johannesburg
01/11/2003: SA v Samoa [60-10] Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
06/07/2002: SA v Samoa [60-18] Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
10/06/1995: SA v Samoa [42-14] Ellis Park, Johannesburg
13/04/1995: SA v Samoa [60-08] Ellis Park, Johannesburg
interesting to see bismarck ahead of botha – extra weight needed against the samoans!