White recalls Burger
2005-08-03 12:37
Cape Town - Springbok coach Jake White made three changes and one positional switch to the starting line-up that won at Loftus last week for the much-anticpated Tri Nations clash against the All Black at Newlands on Saturday.
As was expected, 2004 International Rugby Player of the Year Schalk Burger takes his place at the side of the scrum in place of Bulls No 8 Jacque Cronje.
Burger's Western Province team-mate Joe van Niekerk, who was outshined by ace Wallaby fetchers George Smith and Phil Waugh at Loftus last Saturday, therefore returns to the more familiar position of eighth man.
Although White is concerned with Burger's disciplinary record, the Bok coach can ill afford to start a Test without his blonde-haired star against an All Black side that boasts arguably the world's best openside flank in Richie McCaw.
The exciting scrumhalf Enrico Januarie also returns to the side with Fourie du Preez dropping back down to the bench.
Veteran prop Os du Randt has regained fitness and replaces the mobile Guthro Steenkamp in the engine room.
Hanyani Shimange also replaces Loftus debutant Gary Botha on the reserve bench.
The full Springbok team is:
Percy Montgomery, Breyton Paulse, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Andre Pretorius, Enrico Januarie, Joe van Niekerk, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, CJ van der Linde, John Smit (captain), Os du Randt
Reserves:
Hanyani Shimange, Gurthro Steenkamp, Albert van den Berg, Jacques Cronje, Fourie du Preez, Wayne Julies, Jaco van der Westhuyzen
- SAPA