OMEN
10-05-2007, 10:04 PM
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Springbok coach Jake White has opted for a squad of 23 players rather than announce the usual match 22 for Sunday’s World Cup quarterfinal against Fiji at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille.
White explained the doubt over the fitness of CJ van der Linde had prompted him to delay the finalisation of his bench. Van der Linde has been included in the starting team, but his participation in the game will be pending how he fares in a warm-up session earlier in the day.
In the meantime, Jannie du Plessis, who has now joined the squad and was one of the players present for interviews at the squad announcement, will be doing a crash course getting himself reacquainted with the Bok scrum calls and the moves.
“We have every confidence in Jannie’s ability to provide us with what we are looking for, but CJ is the first choice and we would like him to get maximum opportunity to recover,” said White.
The starting team shows five changes, including a positional switch, from the side that outplayed the United States in a pool match last Sunday.
As anticipated, Schalk Burger switches back to flank from No8 to enable Danie Rossouw to get some game time, but he will move back to No8 during the course of the game, with Wikus van Heerden, who drops out the starting lineup for the first time in three matches, coming on as a replacement flank.
Van der Linde replaces the injured BJ Botha, who was forced to fly home earlier this week to undergo a ligament operation.
JP Pietersen returns on the right wing for Akona Ndungane, and Bakkies Botha is back at lock at the expense of Albert van den Berg.
White said he would finalise his reserves on the morning of the game and is still undecided whether to opt for a five/two split between forwards and backs or the usual four/three.
If he goes for the former, which appears likely, then André Pretorius will drop out. If Van der Linde does not play, however, then Pretorius will be on the bench.
SPRINGBOK TEAM
Percy Montgomery; JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Francois Steyn, Bryan Habana; Butch James, Fourie du Preez; Dannie Roussouw, Juan Smit, Schalk Burger; Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha; CJ van der Linde, John Smit (capt), Os du Randt
Replacements: Gary Botha, Gurthro Steenkamp, Jannie du Plessis, Johann Muller, Wikus van Heerden, Ruan Pienaar, Wynand Olivier, Andre Pretorius (one to be omitted)
SAPA
Springbok coach Jake White has opted for a squad of 23 players rather than announce the usual match 22 for Sunday’s World Cup quarterfinal against Fiji at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille.
White explained the doubt over the fitness of CJ van der Linde had prompted him to delay the finalisation of his bench. Van der Linde has been included in the starting team, but his participation in the game will be pending how he fares in a warm-up session earlier in the day.
In the meantime, Jannie du Plessis, who has now joined the squad and was one of the players present for interviews at the squad announcement, will be doing a crash course getting himself reacquainted with the Bok scrum calls and the moves.
“We have every confidence in Jannie’s ability to provide us with what we are looking for, but CJ is the first choice and we would like him to get maximum opportunity to recover,” said White.
The starting team shows five changes, including a positional switch, from the side that outplayed the United States in a pool match last Sunday.
As anticipated, Schalk Burger switches back to flank from No8 to enable Danie Rossouw to get some game time, but he will move back to No8 during the course of the game, with Wikus van Heerden, who drops out the starting lineup for the first time in three matches, coming on as a replacement flank.
Van der Linde replaces the injured BJ Botha, who was forced to fly home earlier this week to undergo a ligament operation.
JP Pietersen returns on the right wing for Akona Ndungane, and Bakkies Botha is back at lock at the expense of Albert van den Berg.
White said he would finalise his reserves on the morning of the game and is still undecided whether to opt for a five/two split between forwards and backs or the usual four/three.
If he goes for the former, which appears likely, then André Pretorius will drop out. If Van der Linde does not play, however, then Pretorius will be on the bench.
SPRINGBOK TEAM
Percy Montgomery; JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Francois Steyn, Bryan Habana; Butch James, Fourie du Preez; Dannie Roussouw, Juan Smit, Schalk Burger; Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha; CJ van der Linde, John Smit (capt), Os du Randt
Replacements: Gary Botha, Gurthro Steenkamp, Jannie du Plessis, Johann Muller, Wikus van Heerden, Ruan Pienaar, Wynand Olivier, Andre Pretorius (one to be omitted)
SAPA