Blue Bulls scrumhalf Fourie du Preez is expected to be the only change to the Springbok backline for Saturday’s opening Vodacom Tri-Nations Test against the Wallabies at Loftus on Saturday.
The new-look Bok backs put in a performance of incredible proportions to deny the visitors in the Mandela Challenge match in Johannesburg last weekend, while displaying inventiveness and pace going forward.
But with a punishing schedule in the coming weeks, coach Jake White is looking to rest certain players in key positions.
Midfield pairing Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie look set to continue their partnership for at least one more Test. The duo stood out in the defeat of the Wallabies at the weekend and White will hope they can terrorise the visitors again.
The change is not because team management is unhappy with the performance of the Lions’ Ricky Januarie in the Mandela Challenge match, but rather that White believes Du Preez will add an extra dimension in Pretoria, his hometown.
Up front, White is likely to have a more serious rethink on the make-up of his pack, with a possible change at tighthead with CJ van der Linde or Lawrence Sephaka coming in for out-of-sorts Eddie Andrews.
With Os du Randt still recovering from a leg injury, White will probably take the chance to rest the veteran front-rower for another match.
The loose-trio, too, could be revamped with any number of combinations possible for the must-win encounter.
At Ellis Park on Saturday, the back three of Joe van Niekerk, Juan Smith and Solly Tyibilika were outstanding, but the coach may opt to rotate his players ahead of what will definitely be a gruelling Tri-Nations campaign.
Both Jacques Cronje (at number eight) and Schalk Burger could start, with Van Niekerk switching to blindside flank, or Burger could come in for Tyibilika, resulting in the combination that started the second half at Ellis Park.
Assistant coach Allister Coetzee refused to be drawn on the actual look of his back division for a match the Boks simply need to win if they hope to make a successful defence of their Tri-Nations crown.
”If you win your home games, you have one hand on the cup,” Coetzee said. ”We saw it last year — there is a fine line between finishing first and third.”
The Boks managed to turn around their lot in awesome style last weekend, after a woeful performance in Sydney just more than a fortnight ago.
”We need to ensure that it is not their turn to reverse their fortunes at Loftus. We are focused on kicking off with a good win and then taking that momentum to Cape Town.”
After Loftus, the South African team face, arguably, the most daunting of their hurdles so far this season — the New Zealand All Blacks at Newlands the following weekend.
White will name his match 22 for Loftus on Wednesday afternoon. — Sapa