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Springboks make three changes, including a switch at fly-half

(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)

Jacques Nienaber has made three changes to his Springboks team to face Scotland this weekend in Edinburgh following last weekend’s 23-18 win over Wales in Cardiff – Franco Mostert replaces Lood de Jager at lock, Elton Jantjies comes in at out-half in place of Handre Pollard while Willie le Roux is restored at full-back following Damian Willemse’ concussion.

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Elsewhere, Frans Steyn is in line to set a new South African record for the longest international rugby career. The veteran will edge Victor Matfield as the player with the longest Springbok career by becoming the first South African to play Test rugby in over 15 calendar years.

Whereas le Roux is promoted for the unavailable Willemse, Nienaber has decided to employ rotation regarding his two other XV changes with a view to the Springboks wrapping up their European tour with the November 20 meeting versus England at Twickenham. It means Pollard and de Jager will be held in reserve versus the Scots with Jantjies, the Springboks match-winner last month versus the All Blacks, and Mostert playing from the start.  

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“Scotland will be a force to be reckoned with at Murrayfield, so it was important for us to maintain continuity within our squad, while at the same time celebrating Jesse (Kriel) and Franco’s 50th caps and giving Elton a chance to start,” said Nienaber. “Elton has been training very well since the squad assembled and he has performed well every time he earned a run, so we thought it was the right time to hand him a start.

Nienaber also lauded Steyn who, at 34 years old, showed that he still has what it takes to star at the highest level of the game by being named man of the match against Wales last week. “Playing international rugby for 15 years is an extraordinary achievement and what makes this feat even more remarkable is that Frans continues to show his class despite being at the twilight of his career.

“Scotland have a quality team with a number of experienced players and a few British and Irish Lions players, so we are under no illusions about the challenge ahead,” added Nienaber. “They are a physical side with solid set pieces, but they also have the skills to run the ball, so we will have to be accurate on attack and defence. We laid a good foundation for the tour in Cardiff last week and we know what areas we would like to improve on. 

“We created opportunities to score points last week, but we didn’t convert some of them, and we also conceded several penalties, so we need to step up our discipline as well. The scrums will be a key battle with former Springbok scrum coach Pieter de Villiers now serving that role for Scotland, but that is an area of the game we pride ourselves on too, so we need to be physical and accurate upfront.”

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SPRINGBOKS (vs Scotland, Saturday)
15 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 70 caps, 60 pts (12t)
14 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 49 caps, 60 pts (12t)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 24 caps, 25 pts (5t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Munster) – 56 caps, 35 pts (7t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 23 caps, 85 pts (17t)
10 – Elton Jantjies (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes) – 42 caps, 312 pts (2t, 64c, 57p, 1d)
9 – Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers) – 19 caps, 25 pts (5t)
8 – Duane Vermeulen (Ulster) – 59 caps, 15 pts (3t)
7 – Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo) – 17 caps, 5 pts (1t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 61 caps, 30 pts (6t)
5 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 49 caps, 5pts (1t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Toulon) – 95 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 – Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls) – 52 caps, 5pts (1t)
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks) – 46 caps, 45 pts (9t)
1 – Ox Nché (Cell C Sharks) – 7 caps, 0pts
Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 44 caps, 50 pts (10t)
17 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 57 caps, 5pts (1t)
18 – Vincent Koch (Saracens) – 29 caps, 0 pts
19 – Lood de Jager (Sale Sharks) – 54 caps, 25 pts (5t)
20 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 9 caps, 0 pts
21 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 19 caps, 40pts (8t)
22 – Handré Pollard (Montpellier) – 58 caps, 580 pts (6t, 83c, 124p, 4d)
23 – Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs) – 72 caps, 144pts (11t, 7c, 22p, 3d)

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H
Hellhound 48 minutes ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

I'm no fan of Du Point, but I am not blind. I will go as far as agree to disagree. Without him the French wouldn't nearly have been so good. He has made game saving tackles, he has steered the French to victory in most of his games. He creates try assists that should not have been.


His kicking is very accurate, and if he was a Bok, he would be in the team. Roigard is very good, but he is no Du Point. He is a generational talent. You dislike him BECAUSE everyone is so hyped about him, NOT because he is a very good player.


It's the same with me. It irritates me, but I am not blind. ANYONE saying he isn't good, is definitely lying to themselves. Do yourself a favour. Go and look at highlights about him on YouTube or somewhere. Really have a look. Without prejudice.


He isn't as lucky as other players to have the kind of players like SA and NZ have, although currently the French forwards is the biggest on the planet. To my shame I must admit that every game I see him play, I hope someone injures him which is very very wrong. It's just that he is THAT GOOD. There is no other players that I ever wished for that, because they are just not in his class.


No, stop lying to yourself. Go look at his stats. He is responsible for at least 60%-70% of the French score every game. Creating tries, scoring himself or assist, pin point kicking, creating gaps, tackles like a machine, slippery as hell and always tries to dominate a ref which is starting to count against him, but don't be fooled. I haven't even mentioned half of what he does. He inspires that team in a way other players can never do.


There is no other scrumhalf in the world like him, and there will never be again. I hate the French and I hate Du Point, but there is no denying his talent. If he played for your team, you would have raved and absolutely loved him. That is not to say Roigard isn't good. He is very good too.

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