Category: Rugby Championship

Thomas Rooney | Ahead of their final Rugby Championship match against New Zealand this weekend, South Africa have announced an unchanged side. (more…)

Steyn axed for Goosen as Bok team named

Heyneke Meyer has dropped out-of-form Morné Steyn from the matchday 22 to face Australia at Loftus on Saturday. He is replaced by Johan Goosen, while Elton Jantjies provides flyhalf cover off the bench.

Frans Steyn is named with Jaco Taute at inside centre, but his participation depends on a full recovery from the ankle injury picked up during training. Taute will make his Bok debut at outside centre if Steyn fails to recover, with Jean de Villiers moving to number 12.

Eben Etzebeth returns from suspension to join Andries Bekker in the second-row, while Coenie Oosthuizen returns from a neck injury to replace the suspended Dean Greyling.

Zane Kirchner is retained at fullback giving Pat Lambie another potential 75 minutes on the bench.

Boks by 15

Springbok team

15. Zane Kirchner (Blue Bulls)
14. Bryan Habana (Western Province)
13. Jean de Villiers (captain, Western Province)
12. Frans Steyn (Sharks) / Jaco Taute (Lions)
11. Francois Hougaard (Blue Bulls)
10. Johan Goosen (Cheetahs)
09. Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N Ireland)
08. Duane Vermeulen (Stormers)
07. Willem Alberts (Sharks)
06. Francois Louw (Bath)
05. Andries Bekker (Stormers)
04. Eben Etzebeth (Stormers)
03. Jannie du Plessis (Sharks)
02. Adriaan Strauss (vice-captain, FS Cheetahs)
01. Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)

Replacements

16. Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province)
17. Coenie Oosthuizen
18. Flip van der Merwe (Bulls)
19. Marcell Coetzee (Sharks)
20. Elton Jantjies (Lions)
21. Juan de Jongh (Stormers) / Jaco Taute (Lions)
22. Pat Lambie (Sharks)

Heyneke Meyer admitted after the 21 – 11 loss to New Zealand on Saturday that it had been a mistake to give Morné Steyn another chance after the break. Steyn’s wayward kicking cost the Boks a rare chance of victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand.

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Heyneke Meyer has dug his heels in and persisted with selecting the out-of-form Morné Steyn. Francois Louw of Bath starts ahead of Marcell Coetzee who is relegated to the bench. Flip ‘Yellow card’ van der Merwe gets a rare start following the suspension of Eben ‘Ysterbeth’.

Jannie du Plessis is named in the starting team despite a hamstring injury and may be forced to pull out at the last minute. Meyer again favours the one-dimensional Zane ‘Sideshow Bob’ Kirchner at full back ahead of Patrick ‘Splinters’ Lambie.

Expect the usual ‘skop-en-jag/stampkar’ game plan, kicking away possession and in the end a huge defeat for the hapless Boks. New Zealand by 30.

Springbok team

15. Zane Kirchner (Blue Bulls)
14. Bryan Habana (Western Province)
13. Jean de Villiers (captain, Western Province)
12. Frans Steyn (Sharks)
11. Francois Hougaard (Blue Bulls)
10. Morné Steyn (Blue Bulls)
09. Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N Ireland)
08. Duane Vermeulen (Stormers)
07. Willem Alberts (Sharks)
06. Francois Louw (Bath)
05. Flip van der Merwe (Blue Bulls)
04. Juandré Kruger (Blue Bulls)
03. Jannie du Plessis (Sharks)
02. Adriaan Strauss (vice-captain, FS Cheetahs)
01. Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)

Replacements

16. Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province)
17. Dean Greyling (Blue Bulls)
18. Andries Bekker (Stormers)
19. Marcell Coetzee (Sharks)
20. Johan Goosen (Free State)
21. Juan de Jongh (Stormers)
22. Pat Lambie (Sharks)

New Zealand – 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Brodie Retallick, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Aaron Smith, 21 Beauden Barrett, 22 Tamati Ellison