Arno Botha Replaces Injured Willem Alberts in Springbok Team
Arno Botha replaces injured Willem Alberts in Springbok team that face Italy 8 June 2013.
Uncapped loose forward Arno Botha has been called into the Springbok starting team in the place of the injured Willem Alberts for Saturday’s Castle Lager Incoming Series opener against Italy at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban.
Botha’s place on the replacements bench goes to Marcell Coetzee, who played in all 12 Springbok Tests last year. Botha is the third uncapped player in the starting line-up, along with fullback Willie le Roux and scrumhalf Jano Vermaak.
“It’s never ideal losing an experienced member of your squad the day before a Test and I feel for Willem, but I also have the utmost confidence in Arno and Marcell, who I rate as two of the most exciting young loose forwards in South Africa,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
Commenting on the injury, Springbok team doctor Craig Roberts said: “Alberts picked up an oblique abdominal strain earlier in the week and the decision was taken to withdraw him Saturday’s Test, but he should be ready for next week’s Test against Scotland in Nelspruit.”
Revised Springbok team to face Italy in Durban is:
| Position | Name | Province | Test Caps |
| 15 | Willie le Roux | GWK Griquas | 0 |
| 14 | Bryan Habana | DHL Western Province | 83 |
| 13 | JJ Engelbrecht | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 1 |
| 12 | Jean de Villiers (captain) | DHL Western Province | 84 |
| 11 | Bjorn Basson | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 6 |
| 10 | Morné Steyn | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 42 |
| 9 | Jano Vermaak | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 0 |
| 8 | Pierre Spies | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 50 |
| 7 | Arno Botha | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 0 |
| 6 | Francois Louw | Bath, England | 17 |
| 5 | Juandré Kruger | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 8 |
| 4 | Eben Etzebeth | DHL Western Province | 11 |
| 3 | Jannie du Plessis | The Sharks | 42 |
| 2 | Adriaan Strauss (vice-captain) | Toyota FS Cheetahs | 21 |
| 1 | Tendai Mtawarira | The Sharks | 41 |
| Replacements | |||
| 16 | Chiliboy Ralepelle | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 21 |
| 17 | Trevor Nyakane | Toyota FS Cheetahs | 0 |
| 18 | Coenie Oosthuizen | Toyota FS Cheetahs | 2 |
| 19 | Flip van der Merwe | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 23 |
| 20 | Marcell Coetzee | The Sharks | 12 |
| 21 | Ruan Pienaar | Ulster, N-Ireland | 63 |
| 22 | Pat Lambie | The Sharks | 20 |
| 23 | Jan Serfontein | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 0 |
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