Three Boks to debut againt the Wallabies
Three of the form South African players of the Vodacom Super Rugby season will make their international debuts against Australia on Saturday, following the announcement of the Springbok team in Sydney today.
Props Dean Greyling and Werner Kruger and looseforward Ashley Johnson were named by coach Peter de Villiers in the Springbok team to meet the Wallabies at the ANZ Stadium in the opening Castle Tri-Nations test.
The team is led by John Smit, in his 103rd Test, and contains four other Rugby World Cup winners in Wynand Olivier, Ruan Pienaar, Danie Rossouw and Johan Muller. A sixth, CJ van der Linde, is on the bench as the replacement prop.
Heinrich Brüssow was not considered as he continues his rehabilitation from a knee injury.
Uncapped scrumhalf Charl McLeod was named on the bench. Three of the four potential new caps have appeared in non-Test Springbok matches; the exception is Dean Greyling.
“The new caps had outstanding Super Rugby seasons and this is an exciting opportunity for them,” said De Villiers. “They have been rewarded for their form and now it’s up to them.
“We have got some new combinations, but there is a lot of potential in this side and the players are hungry for this chance.”
Joint Super Rugby top try scorer, Bjorn Basson (nine tries), was named on one wing with Lwazi Mvovo – who was tied for second on the SA scoring log with six – was named on the other in a backline also featuring the pace and elusiveness of Gio Aplon and Juan de Jongh.
The experienced trio of halfbacks Ruan Pienaar and Morne Steyn and inside centre Wynand Oliver complete the backline.
Lock Flip van der Merwe gets the chance to step out of his understudy role to the injured Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield while Vodacom Bulls pairing, Deon Stegmann and Danie Rossouw partner Johnson in the backrow.
South Africa v Australia, 23 July 2011 (ANZ Stadium, Sydney)
| No | Player | Province | Caps |
| 15 | Gio Aplon | DHL Western Province | 13 |
| 14 | Bjorn Basson | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 4 |
| 13 | Juan de Jongh | DHL Western Province | 6 |
| 12 | Wynand Olivier | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 32 |
| 11 | Lwazi Mvovo | The Sharks | 2 |
| 10 | Morne Steyn | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 25 |
| 9 | Ruan Pienaar | Ulster | 47 |
| 8 | Ashley Johnson | Toyota Free State Cheetahs | – |
| 7 | Danie Rossouw | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 54 |
| 6 | Deon Stegmann | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 4 |
| 5 | Johann Muller | Ulster | 23 |
| 4 | Flip van der Merwe | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 10 |
| 3 | Werner Kruger | Vodacom Blue Bulls | – |
| 2 | John Smit (captain) | The Sharks | 102 |
| 1 | Dean Greyling | Vodacom Blue Bulls | – |
| Replacements | |||
| 16 | Chiliboy Ralepelle | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 18 |
| 17 | CJ van der Linde | DHL Western Province | 69 |
| 18 | Alistair Hargreaves | The Sharks | 2 |
| 19 | Jean Deysel | The Sharks | 1 |
| 20 | Charl McLeod | The Sharks | – |
| 21 | Adrian Jacobs | The Sharks | 32 |
| 22 | Patrick Lambie | The Sharks | 4 |
Match Facts
Saturday’s match will be the 72nd test between Australia and South Africa since the first meeting in 1933. The Springboks have won 41 tests, lost 29 and drawn one test in 2001.
South Africa’s record against Australia – Played 71; Won 41; Lost 29; Drawn 1; Points for 1 347; Points against 1 239; Tries for 164; Tries against 128; Average score 19-17.
South Africa’s Castle Tri-Nations record against Australia – Played 34; Won 17; Lost 16; Drawn 1; Points for 748; Points against 786; Tries for 70; Tries against 78. Average score 22-23
South Africa’s away record in the Tri-Nations against Australia – Played 17; Won 3; Lost 13; Drawn 1; Points for 255; Points against 440; Tries for 25; Tries against 46. Average score 15-26
South Africa’s record against Australia at this venue: Played 4; Lost 4; Points for 53; Points against 101; Tries for 4; Tries against 12; Average score 13-25.
MILESTONES AND RECORD WATCH
John Smit will extend his World record of most tests as a captain to 77.
John Smit will extend his Tri-Nations record of most tests as a captain to 29. Richie McCaw of New Zealand is 2nd on 25 tests as captain with George Gregan of Australia 3rd with 21 tests as captain.
John Smit will equal Victor Matfield’s career record of 22 caps against Australia.
John Smit needs one try to equal the Springbok record for most test tries as a hooker. James Dalton and Bismarck du Plessis are the current record holders with 5 tries each.
Morne Steyn needs 38 points in the tournament to equal Percy Montgomery’s career points record for a Springbok in the Tri-Nations of 210.
The following players will make their Tri-Nations debut: Lwazi Mvovo, Bjorn Basson, Ashley Johnson, Deon Stegmann, Werner Kruger and Dean Greyling and, should they be used as a substitute, Alistair Hargreaves, Jean Deysel, Charl McLeod and Patrick Lambie.
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