ROB DAVIES, Cape Town | Wednesday 12.30pm.
DE Wet Barry, the exciting 21-year-old Stormers centre will make his Springbok debut in this Saturday’s one-off Test against Northern Hemisphere hardmen Canada in East London.
Barry, who performed with distinction in the Super 12, will start on inside centre, partnering his Stormers midfield partner Robbie Fleck. The backline for Saturday’s Test is practically all-Stormers, with the Cats’ Werner Swanepoel the only exception at scrumhalf.
Two other Test debutants, Thinus Delport at fullback and hooker John Smit, will warm the reserve bench, with former Bok skipper Joost van der Westhuizen expected to play in the second half.
Bok coach Nick Mallett has not gambled too much among the forwards, with the all-Stormers front-row of Cobus Visagie, Charl Marais and Rob Kempson set to give the tough Canadians a stern challenge.
At lock, Selborne Boome and Krynau Otto will be expected to counter Canadian skipper Al Charron and Cardiff’s massive John Tait.
The Cats’ loose-forward pairing of Rassie Erasmus, skipper Andre Vos and Andre Venter is kept intact, with Stormers flank Corne Krige on the bench. The Springbok loose-forwards are arguably the biggest threat to the Canadians, who will counter the Boks with a trio consisting of Ryan Banks, Dan Baugh and eightman Philip Murphy.
Braam van Straaten will do service at flyhalf, opposing 1995 World Cup veteran Scott Stewart.
The Canadians have not had the best run of form of late, winning only two of their last 12 internationals, and were beaten 34-25 by the United States in the run-up to their South African tour.
The last time the Springboks and Canada clashed was at the now infamous “Battle of Boet Erasmus” when the South Africans won 20-0 in a 1995 World Cup match marred by vicious brawls and suspensions on both sides.
While the Canadians’ physical approach to the game will probably remain essentially the same, coach David Clarke has promised a more expansive, open style of play.
The Canadians go into this match as underdogs, “rank amateurs” according to some, but there can be very little doubt that their all-out approach is geared for, and will guarantee, some entertaining moments, both on the ball and off.
If the tempers are kept under control and the agression is channelled from the outset there is no reason why the Canadians and Springboks cannot serve up a feast of high-class running rugby.
Teams:
South Africa: Percy Montgomery, Breyton Paulse, Robbie Fleck, De Wet Barry, Pieter Rossouw, Braam van Straaten, Werner Swanepoel, Andre Vos (capt), Andre Venter, Johan Erasmus, Selborne Boome, Krynauw Otto, Cobus Visagie, Charl Marais, Rob Kempson. Substitutes: Thinus Delport, Chester Williams, Japie Mulder, Joost van der Westhuizen, Corne Krige, Willie Meyer, John Smit.
Canada: Winston Stanley, Fred Asselin, Nik Witkowski, Kyle Nichols, Sean Fauth, Scott Stewart, Morgan Williams, Philip Murphy, Dan Baugh, Ryan Banks, John Tait, Al Charron (capt), John Thiel, Pat Dunkley, Rod Snow. Substitutes: To be announced later.