ANDY COLQUHOUN, Edinburgh | Monday 2.00pm.
PIETER Muller and Krynauw Otto have been axed from the Springboks starting line-up for Sunday’s World Cup opener against Scotland.
The pair had been earmarked to reclaim their starting positions in a full strength Springbok line-up.
But it now appears that the canny Venter and experienced Andrews have jumped to the head of the queue for the key inside centre berth and as Albert van den Bergh’s lock partner.
The pair trained with the rest of the first team squad on Monday morning before the session was closed to the press after 30 minutes.
Unless coach Nick Mallett was pulling off an elaborate bluff before the television cameras it appears Sunday’s test line-up will be: Percy Montgomery, Deon Kayser, Robbie Fleck, Brendan Venter, Pieter Rossouw, Henry Honiball, Joost van der Westhuizen, Bobby Skinstad, Andre Venter, Rassie Erasmus, Mark Andrews, Albert van den Bergh, Cobus Visagie, Naka Drotske and Os du Randt.
A start for Venter would complete a remarkable comeback. He has played only 40 minutes in a Springbok jersey since 1996.
His return to Free State in the winter brought him to the selectors notice once again as they looekd to fill the vexed number 12 jersey.
Venter has the same skills as Dick Muir – who so successfully marshalled the South African backline in 1997 – while having more physical presence and pace.
He scores over the crash-tackling Muller by virtue of superior distribution skills.
Andrews owes only his second start in eight internationals to injury to Selborne Boome. As a specialist middle of the line jumper he may have shaded Otto – who prefers to jump at the front where Van den Berg plays.
Otto was South Africa’s forward of 1998 but a hamstring strain saw him lose his place during the Tri-Nations and he is likely to find himself on the bench for the first time since the last World Cup on Sunday. — MWP