Injuries cast doubt over Boks selection
ALTHOUGH the Springbok team to play the All Blacks was named yesterday, injury may yet force coach Heyneke Meyer into some unwelcome changes before kick-off.
Tighthead Jannie du Plessis was named in the starting team but he apparently only has a 50% chance of recovering in time from his hamstring injury. Du Plessis is central to the Bok cause and their scrum battle against the All Blacks. Had another player been under such an ominous injury cloud, he would have been ruled out.
Meyer is desperate to press Du Plessis into service, as his back-up, Pat Cilliers, is also on the doubtful list. Dean Greyling was named substitute prop, while Frans Malherbe joined the squad last night.
To compound matters for the coach, captain Jean de Villiers and Francois Hougaard are still running gingerly as the result of the bruising clash against the Wallabies.
“I’m a little worried about the two props, and it doesn’t help that they are both tightheads. But we are positive that they will come through. I decided that I will go with Pat or Jannie, as we can’t afford to have two guys who are not 100% fit, especially against New Zealand. The guy who is fit will play,” Meyer said.
Juan de Jongh was drafted onto the bench as cover should De Villiers fail to go the distance.
Meyer made a tactical switch by promoting Francois Louw to the starting team, while Marcell Coetzee drops to the bench. Louw’s elevation has more to do with his ball-winning ability and its potential effectiveness against the All Blacks than Coetzee showing signs of battle weariness.
As expected, Flip van der Merwe replaced the suspended Eben Etzebeth.
The All Blacks side is expected to be named today.
The Springbok team is: Zane Kirchner; Bryan Habana, Jean de Villiers (captain), Frans Steyn, Francois Hougaard; Morne Steyn, Ruan Pienaar; Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts, Francois Louw; Juandre Kruger, Flip van der Merwe; Jannie du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Tendai Mtawarira. Substitutes: Tiaan Liebenberg, Dean Greyling, Andries Bekker, Marcell Coetzee; Johan Goosen, Juan de Jongh, Pat Lambie.