Coetzee to start for Boks

THE three debutants named in the Springboks’ starting line-up to face England are set to fill positions vacated by some of South Africa’s most influential players of recent years, and yet Saturday’s Test presents the opportunity for them to begin blazing their own trail.

Marcell Coetzee will slot in on the openside flank in place of outof-favour fetcher Heinrich Brussow; Juandre Kruger replaces his retired mentor and line-out kingpin Victor Matfield; while Eben Etzebeth takes over the mantle from the ultimate enforcer, Bakkies Botha.

With Heyneke Meyer opting to go for more of an all-rounder in the No 6 jersey, 21-year-old Coetzee said he couldn’t wait to take on his role.

“I started out my career as a No 8 and later moved to blindside flank, so I always had that ballcarrying tendency and the ability to make that hit on defence. I’m not going to try to change my game because it brought me to where I am today, but hopefully I can just add to that and grow as a player.”

Kruger, 26, said Matfield’s guidance at the Bulls had stood him in good stead for the step up to national level.

“I have a lot of respect for Victor; he’s a great person off the field and was an amazing player. He’s played a massive part in helping me as a player with the way of thinking and analysing the opposition. He’s played a big role at the Bulls and players have learnt a lot from him because of his willingness to share, and I’ll always be grateful for that.”

Yesterday, Etzebeth, 20, received the highest praise from Meyer when the Bok coach said he believed the youngster had the potential to become a world-class lock that could capably take over from Botha.

“It’s a great honour for me and I hope I can prove him right,” he said. “I’d like to be my own player, but obviously I also really like the physical side of the game.”