Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer picked a rabbit out of the hat by making veteran scrumhalf Fourie du Preez captain for this Saturday’s World Cup clash against Scotland at St James’ Park.Du Preez is a quiet leader and takes over from the injured Jean de Villiers and Victor Matfield to become the 56th Springbok captain and the fourth in only six Tests this year.
“It’s not easy to lose Jean and Victor in one week,” Meyer said.
“But I’ve coached Fourie since he was 19, and I’ve always been astonished by his rugby knowledge. He’s a rugby genius.”
Matfield has a calf strain and will sit this match out, opening the door for Lood de Jager to reunite with Eben Etzebeth in the second row.
Du Preez’s elevation to captain over Schalk Burger, who led the Boks against the All Blacks at Ellis Park when he became the 55th Bok skipper, raised some eyebrows.
But Meyer said he wanted to leave Burger to focus on his role as blindside flank. “I had meetings with all the senior players about the decision,” Meyer said.
“I feel that Schalk brings something different and operates better under less pressure.”
Du Preez said: “It’s a massive honour to captain South Africa but I’m a quiet guy and won’t talk too much. Hopefully I can lead by example and the team will follow me.
“Life is funny. A few weeks ago I didn’t think I would be here and a few months ago I didn't think I’d play again,” he said in reference to a severe ankle injury.
Flank Willem Alberts will make his first appearance of the year after a catalogue of niggling injuries. And just in time. Meyer said that of he hadn’t made it onto the field this week he would have been heading home.
“I guess rugby is a contact sport and you have to be realistic that you’re not always going to get to play every game,” Alberts said.
“I have a part to play in the squad. I don’t think there was extra pressure on me to be fit for this game, but I’m glad I am fit.”
But by picking him on the bench, Meyer has made a risky selection.
If one of the starting loose forwards is injured early on, Alberts is not in good enough physical shape to play nearly a full game.
He is only expected to play 20 to 30 minutes in an ideal scenario.
Meyer admitted it was a calculated risk, and he suggested reserve lock Pieter-Steph du Toit might have to play flank at some stage if the worst-case scenario unfolds.
In all Meyer made three changes to the starting lineup from the team that beat Samoa 46-6 last weekend with hooker Bismarck du Plessis returning in place of Adriaan Strauss, Jesse Kriel in for De Villiers and Lood de Jager for Matfield.
De Jager will have to take over the lineout calling duties from Matfield to add to his workload, but it’s a job he’s relishing.
“I’ve been working on it and know my role and even though Scotland have some guys who speak Afrikaans we haven’t changed our calls much,” De Jager said.
“We have tweaked our calls a little but it’s nothing major.”
The Springbok team to face Scotland in Newcastle is:
Willie le Roux; JP Pietersen; Jesse Kriel; Damian de Allende; Bryan Habana; Handré Pollard; Fourie du Preez (capt); Duane Vermeulen; Schalk Burger; Francois Louw; Lood de Jager; Eben Etzebeth; Jannie du Plessis; Bismarck du Plessis; and Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements:
Adriaan Strauss; Trevor Nyakane; Frans Malherbe; Pieter-Steph du Toit ; Willem Alberts; Ruan Pienaar; Pat Lambie; and Jan Serfontein.
Meyer gives nod to Du Preez as new Bok skipper
“It’s not easy to lose Jean and Victor in one week,” Meyer said.
“But I’ve coached Fourie since he was 19, and I’ve always been astonished by his rugby knowledge. He’s a rugby genius.”
Matfield has a calf strain and will sit this match out, opening the door for Lood de Jager to reunite with Eben Etzebeth in the second row.
Du Preez’s elevation to captain over Schalk Burger, who led the Boks against the All Blacks at Ellis Park when he became the 55th Bok skipper, raised some eyebrows.
But Meyer said he wanted to leave Burger to focus on his role as blindside flank. “I had meetings with all the senior players about the decision,” Meyer said.
“I feel that Schalk brings something different and operates better under less pressure.”
Du Preez said: “It’s a massive honour to captain South Africa but I’m a quiet guy and won’t talk too much. Hopefully I can lead by example and the team will follow me.
“Life is funny. A few weeks ago I didn’t think I would be here and a few months ago I didn't think I’d play again,” he said in reference to a severe ankle injury.
Flank Willem Alberts will make his first appearance of the year after a catalogue of niggling injuries. And just in time. Meyer said that of he hadn’t made it onto the field this week he would have been heading home.
“I guess rugby is a contact sport and you have to be realistic that you’re not always going to get to play every game,” Alberts said.
“I have a part to play in the squad. I don’t think there was extra pressure on me to be fit for this game, but I’m glad I am fit.”
But by picking him on the bench, Meyer has made a risky selection.
If one of the starting loose forwards is injured early on, Alberts is not in good enough physical shape to play nearly a full game.
He is only expected to play 20 to 30 minutes in an ideal scenario.
Meyer admitted it was a calculated risk, and he suggested reserve lock Pieter-Steph du Toit might have to play flank at some stage if the worst-case scenario unfolds.
In all Meyer made three changes to the starting lineup from the team that beat Samoa 46-6 last weekend with hooker Bismarck du Plessis returning in place of Adriaan Strauss, Jesse Kriel in for De Villiers and Lood de Jager for Matfield.
De Jager will have to take over the lineout calling duties from Matfield to add to his workload, but it’s a job he’s relishing.
“I’ve been working on it and know my role and even though Scotland have some guys who speak Afrikaans we haven’t changed our calls much,” De Jager said.
“We have tweaked our calls a little but it’s nothing major.”
The Springbok team to face Scotland in Newcastle is:
Willie le Roux; JP Pietersen; Jesse Kriel; Damian de Allende; Bryan Habana; Handré Pollard; Fourie du Preez (capt); Duane Vermeulen; Schalk Burger; Francois Louw; Lood de Jager; Eben Etzebeth; Jannie du Plessis; Bismarck du Plessis; and Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements:
Adriaan Strauss; Trevor Nyakane; Frans Malherbe; Pieter-Steph du Toit ; Willem Alberts; Ruan Pienaar; Pat Lambie; and Jan Serfontein.
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