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Bok coach a myth-buster?
03/07/2008 22:13 - (SA)
Die Burger
Stephen Nell
Wellington - It's is a myth that Adrian Jacobs cannot hold his own on the defence in first-class rugby, says Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.
De Villiers responded on Thursday to questions about the inclusion of Jacobs at outside centre for the Tri-Nations Test match against New Zealand here on Saturday.
The selection of the Sharks midfielder came as no surprise but eyebrows were raised about the decision not to give the No 13 jersey to the bigger and stronger Frans Steyn. Even members of the New Zealand news media are surprised.
De Villiers said Jacobs had made more tackles then anyone else in the Sharks' last three Super 14 matches of the season.
"It's a myth that he is not a good defender. If you're small and you come from South Africa, it apparently means you cannot defend.
"Let's wait and see what happens on the field. If we are proved wrong and facts can be put on the table, we can talk about it again."
The most interesting selections in the SA team are those of fullback Conrad Jantjes and No 8 Joe van Niekerk.
Brilliant Super 14
Jantjes did well against Wales and Italy last month and retains his place ahead of veteran Percy Montgomery who will join Steyn on the substitutes' bench.
South Africans do not regard Van Niekerk's inclusion a major surprise but it remains an interesting decision that he was selected ahead of Pierre Spies and Ryan Kankowski.
"Joe is back in the Springbok squad after a brilliant Super 14," De Villiers said.
"He proved to us all that he was serious about his rugby when he had an opportunity against Italy. He took it with both hands. Joe deserved his place."
Schalk Burger is back on the flank in Luke Watson's place. The Stormers loose forward will also be on the bench.
"It's been said we do not have enough players who are good on the ground," De Villiers said. "We have good ball carriers. Luke was good at No 8 for the Stormers and he never let us down on the flank. I think he deserves his place in the squad."
As was expected, John Smit is back as hooker and captain. The props, CJ van der Linde and Gurthrö Steenkamp, share the responsibility with Smit to neutralise New Zealand's dangerous scrum.
Montgomery, who handled the goal kicking when the Springboks beat the All Blacks 13-3 here in 1998, will appear in his 97th Test match if he is sent out as a replacement.
The team:
Conrad Jantjes, Odwa Ndungane, Adrian Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Ricky Januarie, Joe van Niekerk, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, CJ van der Linde, John Smit (capt), Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Substitutes: Bismarck du Plessis, Brian Mujati, Andries Bekker, Luke Watson, Bolla Conradie, Frans Steyn and Percy Montgomery.
Television: Live coverage on M-Net and SuperSport 1 on DStv from 09:00 on Saturday.
- Die Burger
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Tri-Nations
