Bok Debut For Potgieter
Jun 20,2012
Pierre Spies will play in his 50th Test for South Africa when they take on England at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Spies was included in a starting 15 that shows three changes from the one that beat England in the second Test of the Castle Incoming Tour. Willem Alberts (flank) and Pat Lambie (fullback) were not declared fit for the Test.
Jacques Potgieter will make his Springbok debut at flank in the place of Alberts, Gio Aplon has been selected at fullback for Lambie and Wynand Olivier comes in at inside centre for Frans Steyn, who is getting married.
There are two changes on the bench. Flyhalf Elton Jantjies has been selected in a Test squad for the first time and will earn his Bok debut if he gets game time, while Ryan Kankowski takes over from Keegan Daniel.
“Injuries have forced us to make a number of changes, which is never ideal, but this provides an opportunity for players like Gio, Wynand and Jacques to put up their hands,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
“Gio is our third fullback of the series, but he’s experienced and has been part of our planning. Wynand came on as a replacement in both of the first two Tests and knows our game plan, while Jacques has impressed this year as a very strong ball carrier – hopefully he can continue with the good work Willem has done in the last fortnight.”
Meyer explained the changes on the bench as follows: “Jacques has not played for a while and we felt Ryan is the right option for this game if he needs to take over from Jacques, with his explosive running. Keegan did very well in the first two Tests, but for this match we felt that Ryan is a better option.
“Elton comes in to provide cover at flyhalf and is a very good goal kicking option, something we will miss with Frans not available.
“Bjorn Basson still covers all three positions in the back trio, JP Pietersen or Bryan Habana can play outside centre and Jean will move to inside centre if needed, so we are covered in all positions in the backline.”
The starting 15 boast a combined total of 464 Test caps – 299 for the backs and 165 for the forwards.
South Africa: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jean de Villiers, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Elton Jantjies, 22 Bjorn Basson.
Comments (19)
Jun 20, 2012 at 13:48:09
Hope the Boks win, but I also hope that Meisiekind has a Sh*t game, so that he gets dropped out of the squad.
Jun 20, 2012 at 13:51:19
Guys just get over it! Ok so we know he isn't the best and most exciting player to ever wear the jersey and there are better options, but it's just getting old, the same nonsense before every game! I mean Kruger, Kankowski, Jantjies, Pienaar are all equally sh*t, don't believe they have done anything to be there but all of these guys are so lets just get on with it, in Meyer I trust!
Jun 20, 2012 at 13:51:52
Very happy that Potgieter has made it into the team. Just reward for a very good season at the Bulls. I reckon the backs may well see more ball in this game, and hopefully so, because there are some pretty awesome finishers there. Still wary of Jantjies, he is a little inconsistant for my liking, but if he does fire, then our backs could have some decent ball coming their way once he comes on.
Jun 20, 2012 at 13:52:43
Ny the way BokBF if that is the case then why does the bulls 11, 14 and 15 score such a sh*tload of tries, just saying people need to start looking at facts and stop dreaming about other things!
Jun 20, 2012 at 13:56:28
Blueblood, you make a good point regarding Olivier, he may not be the most exciting player in South Africa, but he is still a solid defender that will run at the line all day long. He probably won't create the try of the year, but he is good enough to hold his own. I think the reason they have gone with a "defensive' centre like him, instead of an attacker like De Jongh or someone similar, is to contain Tuilagi (or however you spell it).
Jun 21, 2012 at 12:59:18
The only line Wynand should be running to is the queue at the airport to bugger off to Japan.
He can hardly contain his excitement at the sight of a hair straightener, how is he going to contain Tuilagi..!?!?!
Jun 20, 2012 at 15:53:24
Urgh. Jantjies should have been chosen before Morne. Steyn only offers kicking, and that he can't even do.
Jun 20, 2012 at 16:59:21
Why wasn't Joe Pietersen picked? He is a solid all round fullback with great counter attacking ability as well as being a solid defender. But hey, not gonna complain. SA are doing vey well at the moment and I'm very happy with the backline. Reckon we might have a very good chance at winning the Championship this year.
Jun 20, 2012 at 18:35:27
Does not seem like much point calling some up for the final test of a series if they are not going to even be on the bench. Is Joe Pieterson their as a cheer leader?
Jun 20, 2012 at 18:38:03
Jacques Potgieter looks like the missing link- so perhaps he will be a good ball carrier.
Dont know if he will be able to match the incredibule hulk- Alberts thought!
Jun 20, 2012 at 18:53:38
Is that dude running and sleeping at the same time,, looks happy wonder what he dreaming about,, but yeah he has been ok in the super 15,, he likes the physical side of things so lets see how he goes everyone is entitled to a chance.. If he plays Kak then we can slag him off,, we all gonna disagree on selections,, but give the newbies a chance before we kill em manne,,, if it was up to me we would have 15 vrystaaters in the team,,lol
Jun 20, 2012 at 22:23:32
No one is bagging Wynand Olivier. He just simply is not good enough. He is a superstar in a bulls jersey but can not make the step up and he has had a mass of caps now to prove it. He has NEVER had a good game in a bok jersey. The step up is too much for him. As for the theory of him being picked for defensive reasons, Juan De Jongh has defender better than any SA centre this year in super rugby and he brings the bonus of an attacking game. Bulls outside backs often score off multiple phases. Olivier usually hits it up and they go wide when he is in the ruck. His first option is to run, not pass. For boks to succeed, Morne Steyn needs to be playing Currie Cup. We have better goal kickers around these days anyway.
Jun 21, 2012 at 00:04:33
Well said mate we will need Dejong for NZ trust me! He is an all round cylinder that fires not like olivier! Cant believe Dejong not in the team and i from durban! He a bonus point player! Will be waiting to see him return and add power to the pack!
Jun 21, 2012 at 02:05:54
Guys like Kirchener, Basson, Olivier, Morne Steyn are not going to break a game open for you. They are the epitomy of average. If you want to see tries, you need to have guys like Hougaard, Lambie, De Jongh, De Villiers, Aplon and the likes...Kicking game is outdated and last year the AB's proved that to us. They read us like a book and thats why, as much as I hate to admit it, they are better than us. De Jongh has the kind of arrogance I love. He doesnt care if you are the All Blacks or Romania, he will bring the game to you and backs himself. Olivier is a flat track bully that kaks for the big teams and runs a mock with the minnows....
Jun 21, 2012 at 02:07:06
Grant should have been on the bench instead of "Center Killer " Jantjies.
If this guy gets a Bok cap then I will be absolutely amazed at the power in SA Government circles.
Jun 21, 2012 at 09:05:41
well his knee looks very very strapped i must say. well to be honest we wont expect fireworks for the one dimensional backline. wynand and morne next to each other oh my sweet heavens :( might as well run out and cut the grass. might see more running mowing the lawn than watching them play
Jun 20, 2012 at 13:02:15
I guess 11 13 14 15 get to touch the ball at half time.