/ 16 June 2006

Scotland look to restore pride after drubbing

Despite suffering a double blow to their midfield, South Africa are favourites to wrap up the two Test series against Scotland in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. The Springboks beat the visitors 36-16 in the first Test in Durban last weekend. Rib injuries to midfield partners Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie means the Boks go into the game with a new centre pairing.

Despite suffering a double blow to their midfield, South Africa are favourites to wrap up the two Test series against Scotland here on Saturday.

The Springboks beat the visitors 36-16 in the first Test in Durban last weekend.

Rib injuries to midfield partners Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie means the Boks go into the game with a new centre pairing.

Veteran Andre Snyman moves from left wing to outside centre, while Blue Bulls player Wynand Olivier, who made his debut from the bench last Saturday, will wear the number 12 jersey.

The place on the left wing vacated by Snyman will be filled by former South African rugby player of the year, Bryan Habana, who has recovered from an ankle injury.

Most satisfying for Bok coach Jake White is that he hasn’t had to alter his pack. It was this department which rocked Scotland last weekend and it will again be the forwards to whom the Bok coach will look to set his side up.

With Os du Randt playing a pivotal role at loosehead prop and captain John Smit and Eddie Andrews backing him up in the front row, the locks and especially the loose forwards were all over the visitors in Durban last week.

The confidence in the South African side could not be higher after last weekend’s result, but it must be said the Scots were not the same side in Durban as they were during the Six Nations when they recorded wins over England and France.

Coach Frank Hadden has no doubt worked hard on his team’s lack of aggression shown last week and this weekend’s clash promises to be a lot tougher.

Hadden has also rung the changes, particularly up front where the front row, second row and back division show changes.

Gordon Ross also moves into the number 10 jersey, while Simon Webster, who scored Scotland’s only try from the bench last week, moves into the starting XV.

There is great expectation in South Africa for the team to repeat their superb effort, but they are sure to come up against a wounded Scottish team that is looking to restore some of it’s pride.

Springbok fullback Percy Montgomery needs six points to move past the 600-point mark in Test rugby — the first South African to do so. – Sapa