Forward enforcer AJ Venter is one of seven changes coach Jake White made to the Springboks’ team in Sydney on Friday for next week’s rugby Test against the Pacific Islands in Gosford.
Venter, who last played against Argentina 13 months ago, has been in strife with judiciaries and was suspended twice for a total of 10 weeks last year, missing the World Cup in Australia.
The 30-year-old Coastal Sharks backrower was unavailable for the Springboks’ first two Tests of the year after an eight-week ban for head-butting Queensland scrumhalf Josh Valentine in a Super 12 game in Durban.
Venter, who was named at openside flanker for the July 17 international, is one of four changes to the pack that started in South Africa’s 53-18 win over Wales in Pretoria just less than two weeks ago.
Utility forward Gerrie Britz, who made his first three Test appearances off the bench in the matches against Ireland and Wales, will get his first start.
In a new second-row combination, Britz is joined by Bakkies Botha, who missed the three domestic Tests through injury.
Prop Eddie Andrews replaces Faan Rautenbach in the starting side, while Bulla Conradie takes over the starting number-nine role from Fourie du Preez.
Two other players, winger Jean de Villiers and centre De Wet Barry, have also been given their first Test start of the season after recovering from injury.
White rated Britz, who has also played as a flanker, as having the athleticism and the ability of Victor Matfield, the Springboks’ premier second-rower, who has been rested from next week’s match.
Players dropped to the bench are lock Quinton Davids, flanker Pedrie Vannenburg, Du Preez and winger Brent Russell while Matfield, Rautenbach and Wayne Julies have been omitted from the 22-man squad named against Wales.
Captain and hooker John Smit looked at the games against the Islanders as an opportunity to end South Africa’s losing streak in Australia, which stretches back six years.
”It’s a long time since the Springboks have won a Test in Australasia, the Islanders are going to be physical, but we want to start off the Australasian tour with a win,” Smit said. — Sapa-AFP