OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Wednesday 5.00pm.
THE Springboks will be without the services of prop Cobus Visagie when they take on England in the first of two Tests at Loftus in Pretoria on Saturday.
Visagie is carrying a rib cartilage injury and has been sidelined to avoid aggravating the injury. Sarfu media liason Alex Broun said on Thursday that Visagie was given a cortisone injection and “has responded well to treatment.” Broun added that the Stormers front-ranker should start training again next week. Willie Meyer replaces Visagie in the front-row.
Apart from the forced change, coach Nick Mallett has kept faith in his starting line-up, naming the same 15 players who beat Canada four days ago.
On the bench, Sharks prop Ollie le Roux comes in for Meyer and lock Albert van den Berg effectively replaces centre Japie Mulder.
Mallett told a press conference in Pretoria that he had omitted Le Roux and Van den Berg last week because the coaching staff felt they were not fully fit.
He went on to praise the Boks’ opponents, saying that England can match the prowess of the three superpowers of southern hemisphere rugby.
“England no longer have to stand back for the southern hemisphere nations. They’re now a far better equipped side to play 15-man rugby.
“They’ve made a quantum leap from the days of playing with heavy forwards and a (kicking) flyhalf like Rob Andrew,” said Mallett.
England manager Clive Woodward, meanwhile, rewarded winger Dan Luger with a selection to the Test side.
Luger missed the entire Six Nations tournament with a niggling groin strain. His last international was at the World Cup.
Woodward was happy that Luger had proved his fitness and form in the England second string team’s 52-22 victory over North West Leopards in Potchefstroom on Tuesday night.
Julian White, the 27-year-old tighthead prop, is the only new cap in the starting XV.
Woodward delayed naming the substitutes until Thursday to give him a chance to assess players struggling with slight injuries after Tuesday’s match.