South Africa on Tuesday named a largely unchanged side to face Australia in Saturday’s Tri-Nations Test, as coach Peter de Villiers stuck with his plan to exert maximum pressure on the Wallabies.
De Villiers made one injury-enforced tweak to the starting side that beat Australia 32-25 last week in Perth, with Odwa Ndungane replacing the injured JP Pietersen on the wing.
On the bench, lock Danie Rossouw comes in for the injured Andries Bekker.
The Springboks are undefeated in this Tri-Nations campaign but De Villiers vowed after last week’s victory that he would not underestimate the winless Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday.
The world champions’ only loss this year was to the British and Irish Lions in the dead-rubber third Test, when De Villiers experimented with his team and paid the price.
De Villiers will be hoping to maintain the Springboks’ unblemished Tri-Nations record and post South Africa’s first win in Brisbane since 1971.
Pack enforcer Bakkies Botha shook off abdomen and knee problems to make the side, with superstar winger Bryan Habana overcoming a groin strain. — Sapa-AFP
South Africa: Ruan Pienaar; Odwa Ndungane, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers,
Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Heinrich Brüssow; Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha; John Smit (captain), Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jannie du Plessis, Danie Rossouw, Schalk Burger, Ricky Januarie, Adi Jacobs, Frans Steyn.