Juan handed another Bok start
The Varsity Cup’s most famous graduate, Juan de Jongh, will make his second Test start – having been named in the Springbok run-on XV to take on Italy in East London on Saturday.
The straight-running Maties centre – a Varsity Cup winner in 2008 – will start alongside Stormers teammate Jaque Fourie in one of seven changes to the Bok XV that limped to a 29-13 win over the Azzurri in Witbank last weekend.
Of the seven changes, five are new faces and two are positional switches, whilst coach Peter de Villiers has made a further six changes on the Bok bench.
Bryan Habana (left-wing), Morné Steyn (flyhalf), Ricky Januarie (scrumhalf), Pierre Spies (No.8), Francois Louw (flank), Bakkies Botha (lock), Jannie du Plessis (tighthead prop) and Gurthrö Steenkamp (loosehead prop) are the only players remaining in their positions from last week – whilst fit-again hooker John Smit will take over the captaincy from lock Victor Matfield who is being rested this week.
Speaking at a press conference in East London on Tuesday, Smit said he was excited to be back at the helm: “It’s important for us to refocus for Saturday’s Test.”
The record-breaking Bok captain added: “It is quite strange to be watching from afar one week and then be back in the thick of things the next. We have a good team and have to make sure that what we do in training translates on the field on match day.
“We had a good session on Monday and an even better on today and we have to carry that attitude into the game on Saturday.”
De Jongh, meanwhile, will win his fourth Test cap on Saturday in what has been a whirlwind twelve months for him.
He made his Currie Cup breakthrough just last year, before touring with the Boks later in the season. This year he made his starting Super 14 debut for the Stormers, helping them to the final, before marking his first Test – against Wales in Cardiff – with a stunning individual try.
The Springbok team (v Italy):
15 Gio Aplon – three caps
14 Jean de Villiers – 57 caps
13 Jaque Fourie – 56 caps
12 Juan de Jongh – three caps
11 Bryan Habana – 59 caps
10 Morné Steyn – 14 caps
9 Ricky Januarie – 43 caps
8 Pierre Spies – 30 caps
7 Francois Louw – three caps
6 Schalk Burger – 56 caps
5 Andries Bekker – 21 caps
4 Bakkies Botha – 66 caps
3 Jannie du Plessis – 15 caps
2 John Smit (captain) – 95 caps
1 Gurthrö Steenkamp – 24 caps
Replacements:
16 Chiliboy Ralepelle – 11 caps
17 BJ Botha – 21 caps
18 Danie Rossouw – 48 caps
19 Dewald Potgieter – four caps
20 Ruan Pienaar – 39 caps
21 Butch James – 36 caps
22 Wynand Oliver – 28 caps
Kick-off: 3pm
