South Africa coach Jake White on Wednesday included uncapped flanker Kabamba Floors in his team to play England at Twickenham on Saturday.
The Springboks are seeking to avoid an eighth successive defeat by England after last Saturday’s 23-21 first-Test loss but White’s selection was limited by a number of injuries.
Floors, named the year’s Currie Cup player of the year after his impressive displays for the Cheetahs, was a surprise absentee from the initial tour squad but flew in this week after injury ruled out loose forward duo Pierre Spies and Jacques Cronje.
White accepted that he might have been wrong to overlook Floors in what was always deemed an experimental squad. ”Not every decision you make as a coach is correct,” he told a news conference.
”I am very excited about Saturday. It is an opportunity I can’t throw away,” said Floors, who had been preparing to lead the Springbok Sevens team when he got the call.
Danie Rossouw switches from the flank to number eight with Juan Smith coming in at seven.
Andre Pretorius returns at flyhalf after Butch James was ruled out through injury in an otherwise unchanged backline. — Reuters
Team:
15-Francois Steyn; 14-Akona Ndungane, 13-Wynand Olivier, 12-Jean de Villiers, 11-Bryan Habana; 10-Andre Pretorius, 9-Ricky Januarie; 8-Danie Rossouw, 7-Juan Smith, 6-Kabamba Floors, 5-Johann Muller, 4-Johan Ackermann, 3-BJ Botha, 2-John Smit (captain), 1-CJ van der Linde.
Replacements: 16-Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17-Deon Carstens, 18-Albert van den Berg, 19-Gerrie Britz, 20-Ruan Pienaar, 21-JP Pietersen/Bevin Fortuin, 22-Jaco Pretorius.