Meyer keeps his winning recipe
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer named the same starting line-up that beat New Zealand a month ago to face Ireland in the opening Test of the year-end Tests on Dublin on Saturday.
The only change to the matchday squad is at replacement prop, where the injured Marcel van der Merwe is replaced by Coenie Oosthuizen.
"Although Julian Redelinghuys was also considered, he's still new in the team and not familiar with our patterns of play and especially the line-out calls, while Coenie knows the way we play well," said Meyer.
"Coenie is also in great shape and we know what he can do, especially if he has to make an impact off the bench. It's good to have him back."
Meyer was very happy with the continuity in selection from the last Test.
"It's only the fifth time in what will be the 34th Test since I was appointed as Springbok coach that we've been able to select an unchanged starting line-up," said Meyer.
"In this day and age, not making changes to teams is pretty much unheard of, but this is a great position we're in. However, we need to make it count against a very tough Irish side on Saturday.
"Although we won our last Test, the challenge this week is to make another step up. It's imperative that we improve in all facets of our play."
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Bakkies Botha, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 JP Pietersen.
Date: Saturday, November 8
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 17.30 (17.30 GMT; 19.30 SA time)
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (France), Alexandre Ruiz (France)
TMO: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
