Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has made two changes to his side for Saturday’s Tri-Nations Test against Australia in Johannesburg.
With winger JP Pietersen and tighthead prop CJ van der Linde unavailable through injury and suspension respectively, De Villiers has handed starting places to Odwa Ndungane and Brian Mujati.
There are also changes on the bench from the side that lost 27-15 to Australia in Durban last weekend.
World Cup squad member Jannie du Plessis comes in as front-row cover, while lock Danie Rossouw takes the place of Joe van Niekerk.
There is also a spot among the replacements for the versatile Ruan Pienaar.
Two other World Cup stars — Bryan Habana and Frans Steyn — were not considered for the match because of injury. Habana is nursing a hamstring strain, while Steyn is suffering from concussion.
Springbok captain Victor Matfield said it was vital for the Boks to turn around a three-match losing streak in the Tri-Nations competition.
”We need to win this game for South Africa, the coaching staff and all those involved with the Boks,” said the towering lock.
”We certainly don’t want to get together at the end of the year [before the Boks go to Europe] still asking ourselves questions about our game.
”We need to build some confidence now and ensure we take the chances we create this weekend.”
The Boks are coming off defeats to New Zealand in Cape Town, where they lost 19-0, and Australia in Durban a week ago.
They also lost their last match of the overseas leg of the competition, in Perth against Australia in late July.
Team: Conrad Jantjes; Odwa Ndungane, Adrian Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Jongi Nokwe; Butch James, Fourie du Preez; Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger; Victor Matfield (captain), Andries Bekker; Brian Mujati, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Jannie du Plessis, Danie Rossouw, Luke Watson, Ricky Januarie, Ruan Pienaar, Percy Montgomery. — AFP
