OWN CORRESPONDENT, Dunedin | Wednesday 8.30am.
SOUTH Africa on Wednesday confirmed a series of changes to the starting line-up to face the New Zealand All Blacks in Saturday’s Tri-Nations’ Test, as the Springboks try to regroup after being defeated two weeks ago by Wales.
An emerging inside back combination of scrumhalf David von Hoesslin and flyhalf Gaffie du Toit made the starting 15 for only the second time, having had their first full outing at Durban in the record 101-0 win over Italy last month.
Exciting winger Breyton Paulse, who scored three tries on his Test debut last month, has nudged Stefan Terblanche from the number 14 spot after the latter’s participation in the Springboks’ error-ridden 29-19 defeat in Cardiff two weeks ago.
Paulse is the only non-white player in the selected squad. Coach Nick Mallett and team managers have been under increasing pressure from the game’s administrators and South African politicians to increase the number of non-whites called up.
In the forwards, experienced prop Os du Randt returns after injury and lock Mark Andrews, the most capped Springbok of all time, rejoins the side.
Andre Venter comes in to replace star flanker Johan Erasmus, who suffered a recurrence of a rib injury in training recently.
Team: Percy Montgomery, Breyton Paulse , Pieter Muller, Japie Mulder, Pieter Rossouw, Gaffie du Toit, David von Hoesslin; Gary Teichmann (captain), Andre Venter, Corne Krige, Krynauw Otto, Mark Andrews, Cobus Visagie, Naka Drotske, Os du Randt.
Reserves: Robbie Fleck, Braam van Straaten, Werner Swanepoel, Andrew Vos, Selborne Boome, Willie Meyer, Ollie le Roux. — Reuters