Du Preez, Brussow back for Boks
Heinrich Brüssow and Fourie du Preez will return to the Springbok starting line-up for the first time in 21 months, following the announcement of the South African team to meet Australia in a Tri-Nations Test in Durban on Saturday.
The pair missed the entire 2010 season because of injury, but were among 13 changes Springbok coach Peter de Villiers was able to make to the starting line-up that lost 7-40 to New Zealand in Wellington on July 30.
The starting XV is the most experienced in the history of Springbok rugby with a combined total of 810 caps, comfortably surpassing the previous record of 750 caps among the team that met Australia in Bloemfontein last season.
Captain John Smit and loose forward Danie Rossouw are the only survivors in the starting XV from Wellington, whilst another three players, Morné Steyn, Jean Deysel and Gerhard Mostert, have been retained amongst the replacements.
The selection also marks the return for the first time in a year of another four players – JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Butch James and Gurthrö Steenkamp – all of whom missed the end-of-year tour because of injury. Smit and Rossouw – who also missed the tour – made their return in the previous two rounds of the Tri-Nations Series.
“We still have a number of leading players unavailable through injury but this is the strongest squad we have been able to choose from since 2009,” said Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.
“It’s great to have Fourie and Heinrich back as they were two of the leading players in world rugby when they last played in 2009, and they contributed a lot to Springbok success that season.
“This is the first step back for them, but we’re looking to them to have the same impact in due course.”
Du Preez missed the 2010 international seasonal because of a shoulder operation while Brüssow was ruled out by a knee ligament injury.
Loose forward Schalk Burger, Juan Smith and Willem Alberts, and the uncapped Duane Vermeulen, all remain in rehabilitation, whilst loc Andries Bekker has been ruled out of the World Cup with an ankle tendon injury.
“This team has vast experience and a strong leadership core, but that counts for nothing at kick off on Saturday,” said De Villiers.
“This Australian team are no respecter of reputations – we saw that last year in Bloemfontein – and we know just how dangerous they can be.
“They will be highly motivated and hurting after their last result and they have a good recent record against us. They will know we have just come together and they’ll be looking to exploit that.”
* Saturday’s Test match will be the 73rd Test between South Africa and Australia of which 41 have been won by the Springboks. Australia have won four of the last five.
South Africa: 15 Frans Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Danie Rossouw, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 18 Gerhard Mostert, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Morné Steyn, 22 Gio Aplon.
Date: Saturday, August 13
Venue: Mr Price Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Carlo Damasco (Italy)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
