Bakkies Botha blow for Boks
Another injury setback for White
Springbok coach Jake White will be cursing his bad luck. Another of his key players has succumbed to injury ahead of the crucial Test match against France at Newlands on Saturday.
It was confirmed on Wednesday that lock Bakkies Botha was withdrawn from the side to play the French at Newlands.
This setback comes less that 24 hours after White declared that Botha was fine and had fully recovered from the Achilles injury that sidelined him during the two-match series against Scotland earlier this month.
"Clint Readhead [the Bok physio] came up to me this morning and said Bakkies wouldn't be 100 per cent," White told a media gathering at the team's hotel on Wednesday.
"If we were playing a World Cup Final or a Tri-Nations decider we would risk him, but we'd rather give him another week to recover."
This also follows in a week in which Schalk Burger (neck surgery – out till at least January 2007), André Snyman (wrist), Breyton Paulse (hamstring), Jaque Fourie (rib), Jean de Villiers (rib) and Botha (Achilles) were not considered for selection because of injuries.
Danie Rossouw, who was expected to start on the flank, keeps the No.4 jersey as Victor Matfield's lock partner, with Joe van Niekerk at flank and Pedrie Wannenburg at No 8.
Other changes to the Boks were as predicted – De Wet Barry returns at inside centre and Wynand Olivier shifts out to No.13 – with Jaque Fourie remaining on the sidelines, along with De Villiers.
In a final change to the team that beat Scotland 29-15 last week, fit-again Sharks back Brent Russell takes over on the right-wing from the injured Paulse, whilst Bulls rake Gary Botha finds himself on the bench – as back-up to skipper John Smit – instead of Hanyani Shimange.
South Africa: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Brent Russell, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 De Wet Barry, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Joe van Niekerk, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Eddie Andrews, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Os du Randt.
Replacements: 16 Gary Botha, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Jacques Cronjé, 20 Enrico Januarie, 21 Wayne Julies, 22 Gaffie du Toit.
Date: Saturday, June 24
Kick-off: 15:00 (13:00 GMT)
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Touch judges: Tony Spreadbury, Rob Debney (both England)
Television match official: Simon MacDowell (Ireland)
Assessor: Jim Bailey (Wales)
