Stormers and Western Province No 8 Duane Vermeulen will finally make his Springbok debut against Australia in Perth on Saturday, in South Africa’s third Test in The Castle Rugby Championship for 2012. Add to that, Toyota Free State Cheetahs flyhalf Johan Goosen has been selected as part of the super subs and will earn his first Springbok cap if he gets game time at Paterson’s Stadium. Adriaan Strauss has been included at hooker after coming through a a greuling series of fitness tests, but he has until Friday to fully shake off his knee injury.
Vermeulen’s inclusion at no 8 is one of five changes from the starting team that played Argentina in Mendoza on August 25. There are two positional changes, with Francois Hougaard moving from scrumhalf to left wing and Willem Alberts shifting from No 8 to flank. Apart from Vermeulen, lock Juandré Kruger gets a recall, while Ruan Pienaar will start his first Test of 2012 at scrumhalf. There are further two changes to the bench with Francois Louw and Lwazi Mvovo finding spots amongst the super subs.
“We’ve decided to put Duane straight into the starting team because he is a classic No 8, a position we’ve lacked in since Pierre Spies got injured and Ryan Kankowski moved to Japan,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer at the team announcement in Perth on Wednesday. “I’ve always admired the way Duane plays rugby and he’s fitted in very well the past week. He would’ve been a Springbok years ago if it had not been for injuries and it’s great to finally see him selected. The same goes for Johan, who in my mind can become one of the great flyhalves in world rugby. I’ve been very impressed with his work ethic and attitude since he joined the squad on Thursday in Johannesburg and we will keep on managing him carefully over the next few weeks.”
Commenting on the other changes to the team, Meyer said: “Ruan brings a more tactical approach to scrumhalf, while I’ve always been impressed with Francois at wing. At lock we’ve decided to go for Juandré as he plays more to the ball. Juandré and Eben played well as a combination in the June Tests against England. And by including Francois on the bench, we have a specialist opensider, but also a versatile loose forward that brings a bit more balance to our back row mix.”
Springbok team to face Australia:
15. Zane Kirchner, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jean de Villiers (captain), 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Super Subs: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Pat Cilliers, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Francois Louw, 20 Johan Goosen, 21 Patrick Lambie, 22 Lwazi Mvovo
Watch out for my predictions later in the week!!!
Have super blessed day!!!
Regards
Barry-Jo
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