Saturday’s third and final Test between South Africa and the British Irish Lions is anything but a ‘dead rubber’ to those involved, despite the series being settled and 17 changes in the two starting teams.
Morne Steyn’s last-minute, 53m penalty in Pretoria last week secured a 28-25 victory and an unassailable 2-0 lead for the world champions following their five-point win in Durban.
Injuries, suspension and, in South Africa’s case, experimentation, have led to a raft of changes, with the Springboks keeping only five of their starting team from Loftus Versfeld and the Lions eight for the finale at Coca-Cola Park.
That might point to a devalued match, but with both sides aware that there has never been a series whitewash between them in 118 years and with a huge amount of personal pride at stake, another mighty confrontation is on the cards.
”I think we can show the same intensity. Everything isn’t on the line like it was last Saturday, but still for a lot of us it is a chance to pull on a Lions Test jersey again,” said Lions captain Paul O’Connell.
”I think we will be eager to prove ourselves. I don’t think the last two weekends’ results are a true reflection of where we are so I think we will be motivated to show ourselves.”
Injuries have forced the Lions to change both centres and both props, with Phil Vickery given the chance to prove himself against loosehead Beast Mtawarira, who gave him one of the worst 44 minutes of his rugby career in the first Test.
There are first Lions Test starts for prop Andrew Sheridan, centre Riki Flutey and flankers Martyn Williams and Joe Worsley.
The Springboks will look even more different, with scrumhalf Fourie du Preez the only backline survivor from last week’s epic encounter.
Zane Kirchner will make his debut at fullback and Odwa Ndungane and Jongi Nokwe have replaced Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen, try scorers in Pretoria, on the wings.
Jaque Fourie and Wynand Olivier form a new centre pairing while Steyn’s reward for last week’s heroics off the bench is a first Test start at flyhalf.
There is also new look to the pack, partly due to the suspension of Schalk Burger and Bakkies Botha, who are replaced by Heinrich Brussow, who was massively important to the Boks off the bench last week, and former captain Johann Muller.
Burger controversy
Burger’s gouging of Luke Fitzgerald in the first minute of last week’s game has been the hot topic of conversation all week and has left some of the Springboks angry that amid the furore they have not been given due credit for their victories.
South Africa coach Peter de Villiers, who also voiced his disappointment that the Lions had yet to formerly congratulate his team, made no apology for the sweeping changes made with an eye on the forthcoming Tri-Nations series.
”The Lions will have their hands full playing against the backline we have chosen,” he said.
”I hope Wynand Olivier and Jaque Fourie can create the space we need because then the Lions will know Jongi Nokwe’s number. He gives me goosebumps and if you blink you don’t see him.” — Reuters