Du Preez in a class of his own, says Meyer

Scrumhalf’s first start for the Boks since the 2011 World Cup quarterfinal

SCRUMHALF Fourie du Preez will not only bring his considerable array of skills to Saturday’s Rugby Championship encounter against the Wallabies, but also his ability to “coach” the team on the field.

Du Preez, who takes over from Ruan Pienaar, was one of two changes to the Springbok starting line-up from the team that lost 29-15 to New Zealand two weeks ago. As expected, hooker Adriaan Strauss takes over from Bismarck du Plessis in a rotational switch.

It will be Du Preez’s first start for the Boks since the 2011 World Cup quarterfinal against Australia, although he did give a superb performance off the bench against Argentina at Soccer City in August.

Du Preez, 31, has spent the last two years under the influence of former Wallaby coach Eddie Jones while playing for the Suntory Sungoliath club in Japan. In terms of an agreement between the South African Rugby Union and his club he is now available for some, but not all, of the Bok matches.

“Seeing Fourie in training again this week you just realise what a great player he is,” coach Heyneke Meyer said.

“Without taking anything away from Ruan (Pienaar) because he’s also been good and is very experienced, Fourie is in a class of his own,” he added.

“The main thing about Fourie is that we have another coach on the field. He is calm, he organises the defence, the attack and the kicking game. His presence will take a lot of pressure off captain Jean (de Villiers),” Meyer said.

“Fourie’s organisational skills are brilliant and he is a magnificent player. He has the ability to find players in space, or put them into space. Playing in Japan has benefited him because it’s a much quicker game over there and the speed of his pass and delivery has improved.

“I believe that he will take us to the next level.”

Meyer also dismissed any speculation that Strauss’s selection over Du Plessis was as a result of the latter’s red card against the All Blacks at Eden Park. (The card has since been struck off his record.)

“I want to make it clear that I didn’t drop Bismarck and Ruan,” Meyer said. “Before the Championship I told the players which games they would start and which games they would be on the bench.

“The hooker and scrumhalf are the two players who touch the ball the most and you need fresh players in those positions.

“The players know exactly where they stand. The biggest thing between a coach and players is trust and there was no temptation to change the plan after what happened in Auckland.

“I can you tell you now Bismarck will start against the All Blacks next week. Don’t read too much into it, it wasn’t to keep Bismarck away and take pressure off him.”