Springbok coach Jake White has named a near full-strength side for South Africa’s first World Cup warm-up match against Namibia at Newlands on Wednesday.
The match will see the return to action for the Springboks of scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, who’s recovered from injury that kept him out of action during the Boks’ other Tests this year.
Unavailable because of niggling injuries are Bryan Habana, Andre Pretorius, Pierre Spies, Wikus van Heerden and Danie Rossouw.
Of particular interest is the inclusion at number eight of Jacques Cronje, who is not part of the 30-man squad selected to tour France.
The Golden Lions eighthman was called into the squad last week to cover for the injured Rossouw and Van Heerden.
Veteran loosehead prop Os du Ranst will get a rare run in the Bok jersey alongside his captain John Smit and CJ van der Linde, who appears to have overtaken BJ Botha as White’s first choice tighthead prop.
With 530 caps in the starting XV it is the most experienced Springbok Test team of all time.
Following Wednesday’s match, South Africa travel to Ireland on Friday to face provincial outfit Connacht before squaring up to Scotland in Edinburgh.
The Boks open their World Cup against Samoa in Paris on September 9. — AFP
Teams:
South Africa: Percy Montgomery; Ashwin Willemse, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, JP Pietersen; Butch James, Fourie du Preez; Jaques Cronje, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger; Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha; CJ van der Linde, John Smit (captain), Os du Randt. Replacements: Gary Botha, BJ Botha, Albert van den Berg, Johann Muller, Ricky Januarie, Ruan Pienaar, Akona Ndungane
Namibia: Heini Bock; Bradley Langenhoven, Lu-Wayne Botes, Piet van Zyl, Melrick Africa; Emile Wessels, Jurie van Tonder; Jacques Burger, Tinus du Plessis, Jacques Nieuwenhuis; Nico Esterhuyse, Wacca Kazombiaze, Marius Visser, Hugo Horn, Kees Lensing (captain). Replacements: JM Meyer, Jané du Toit, Johnny Redelinghuys, Herman Linvelt, Eugene Jantjies, Du Preez Grobler, TC Losper