/ 28 September 2007

White names strong Bok team for US clash

South Africa are not planning to cruise into the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals.

The Springboks have already won Group A and want to keep the momentum going into the knock-out stages of the tournament, so coach Jake White on Friday announced a strong starting line-up to face the United States Eagles in Montpellier on Sunday.

Schalk Burger returns at number eight after serving a two-game suspension for a high tackle on Samoa scrumhalf Junior Polu in the Boks’ 59-7 win at the Parc des Princes.

South Africa played a second-string side against Tonga in their last group game and were given a major shock by the Pacific islanders, who ran in three second-half tries before losing 30-25.

White made 13 changes from the team that started against Tonga, retaining only lock Albert van den Berg and flanker Wickus van Heerden, and bringing back stars like scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, winger Bryan Habana and veteran fullback Percy Montgomery.

In the quarterfinals, South Africa will meet the winner of Saturday’s game between Wales and Fiji. — Sapa-AP

Team: Percy Montgomery; Akona Ndungane, Jaque Fourie, Francois Steyn, Bryan Habana; Butch James, Fourie du Preez; Wickus van Heerden, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger; Albert van den Berg, Victor Matfield; Os du Randt, John Smit (captain), BJ Botha. Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, CJ van der Linde, Bakkies Botha, Bobby Skinstad, Ruan Pienaar, Andre Pretorius, JP Pietersen, Wynand Olivier.