Baby Boks bring back the big guns
'I am confident the best team has been selected to play France'
South African coach Pieter de Villiers has recalled all his big guns, including captain Chilliboy Ralepelle, for his team's crucial match against France in Round Three of the International Rugby Board (IRB) Under-21 World Championship in Issoire, France, on Saturday.
The team shows five changes from that which put 100 points past Georgia earlier this week.
De Villiers changed his entire front row – bringing back the trio that played in the opening round against Argentina (a 20-16 win for the Baby Boks) – with Heinke van der Merwe, Ralepelle (as captain and hooker) and Sangoni Mxoli starting against France on Saturday.
The only other change up front is burly Bulls SDuper 14 loose forward Pierre Spies returning at No.8.
The final change is on the left wing where Marius Delport returns to the starting XV.
De Villiers said the change were made with a view to how they (the baby Boks) want to play against France.
"I am confident that the best team has been selected to play against France," De Villiers said.
"They are really a strong outfit and won both of their matches comprehensively. They are a proud nation and on home soil even prouder. We are also a very proud team and nation, prepared well and look forward to the challenge."
He added that the baby Boks will focus on their own game, rather than trying to counter what the French might do.
Ralepelle acknowledged the importance of the fixture.
"We are well aware that only a win will guarantee us a spot in the semi-finals. We will do our best to make our country proud," Ralepelle said.
South Africa: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Bradley Barritt, 11 Marius Delport (vice-captain), 10 Isma-eel Dollie, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Hilton Lobberts, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Nikolai Blignaut, 3 Sangoni Mxoli, 2 Chilliboy Ralepelle (captain), 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Adriaan Strauss, 20 Warren Malgas, 21 Morgan Newman, 22 Cedric Mkhize.
Kick-off: 18.00 (16.00 GMT)
