Springboks bring in Lambie at fullback
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South Africa have made one change to the starting line-up for the second Test against England at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday with Patrick Lambie coming in for injured Zane Kirchner at fullback.
There are two enforced changes among the replacements as Werner Kruger replaces Coenie Oosthuizen, who has been ruled out for at least two months because of a first-Test neck injury, and Basson takes over from Lambie.
South Africa lead the three-Test series 1-0 after a good second-half showing in Durban earned a 22-15 victory despite a rare off-day by ace goal-kicker Morne Steyn, who missed three of seven shots at goal.
Kirchner injured his knee at Kings Park and was replaced by Lambie during the interval while Oosthuizen could miss at least part of The Rugby Championship (formerly the Tri-Nations), which kicks off in mid-August.
“I decided against unnecessary changes as we aim to build some continuity during the season,” explained new coach Heyneke Meyer.
“We still have not had a lot of preparation time, but I’m pleased to see how the players have been getting stuck in – on the training field and during our off-field sessions.
“This weekend will be a big challenge again against a good English side, but our focus is still on ourselves. We need to show further improvement from last weekend and have to make a step up.”
Many Springbok supporters will believe the change to the starting line-up strengthens the team with Lambie a surprise omission from the first team named by Meyer, who succeeded Peter de Villiers after the 2011 World Cup.
Bulls custodian Kirchner has played at fullback throughout this Super Rugby season while the Sharks have preferred to deploy highly versatile Lambie mainly at five-eighth.
Kruger must cover loose-head prop Tendai Mtawarira and tight-head Jannie du Plessis, an older brother of hooker and vice-captain Bismarck du Plessis.
Basson, who made headlines in 2010 when sent home from a tour of Britain after a failed drug test, has worn the green and gold before and is a proven try-scorer at Super Rugby level.
South Africa are seeking a ninth consecutive win over England – the streak started at Twickenham in 2006 with a 25-14 victory and the other successes included a 15-6 triumph in the 2007 World Cup final.
© AFP 2013South Africa:
Patrick Lambie, JP Pietersen, Jean de Villiers (capt), Francois Steyn, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Francois Hougaard, Pierre Spies, Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Juandre Kruger, Eben Etzebeth, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira.Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Werner Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Keegan Daniel, Ruan Pienaar, Bjorn Basson, Wynand Olivier
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The Crowd Says (15) | Page 1 of Comments
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June 14th 2012 @ 3:30am
biltongbek said | June 14th 2012 @ 3:30am | Report comment
Morne Steyn has a knack of doing enough every test for coaches to retain him in the 10 jumper, it will take a very special talent to dislodge him.
Goosen might be the one to do it next year.
Thus Lambie must take every opportunity he gets to stake his claim at 15. He is talented, has an eye for a gap, kicks well out of hand and has vision, he can bring a lot more to the table than Kirchner
June 14th 2012 @ 6:37am
Korngold said | June 14th 2012 @ 6:37am | Report comment
Just when the English thought it was safe to go back into the scrum along comes Werner Kruger at six feet three, 118 kgs. One of the big reasons the Boks will win in Jo’burg is that the Green forwards will beat up the All-Whites by running the ball at them. Not much England can do about that except bounce off them. Meyer will have had a word with Beast who’ll get stuck in this time. Habana to score.
June 14th 2012 @ 10:09am
Original Ben S said | June 14th 2012 @ 10:09am | Report comment
Werner Kruger… I’m sure Graham Rowntree is having sleepless nights.
June 14th 2012 @ 2:48pm
Rusty said | June 14th 2012 @ 2:48pm | Report comment
the Ogre? doubt it
June 14th 2012 @ 6:52am
biltongbek said | June 14th 2012 @ 6:52am | Report comment
Hopefully the backs will also run the ball again, Frans steyn to do a bit of magic then offload to Lambie shoulder and score under the posts. That would be nice.
De Villiers to go over the gain line draw the last defenders ad JP Pitersen running the inside line to score untouched.
Habana, nice intercpet of 80 metres, haven’t seen one of those for a while.
Hougaard to snipe around the ruck, leave the english for dead to score next the the left hand post.
Alberts do just run through them on the 5th phase and score.
I suppose I can dream a little.
June 15th 2012 @ 12:15pm
Terry Kidd said | June 15th 2012 @ 12:15pm | Report comment
Hahahaha is your crystal ball on meth? There has not been that much action from a Bok backline in 50 years !!
June 15th 2012 @ 3:17pm
biltongbek said | June 15th 2012 @ 3:17pm | Report comment
Then you must have missed Perth 2009
June 14th 2012 @ 7:06am
kingplaymaker said | June 14th 2012 @ 7:06am | Report comment
Those South African changes could well improve the team further while the English haven’t pulled out new cards, and the next match is at altitude.
June 14th 2012 @ 7:56am
Red Kev said | June 14th 2012 @ 7:56am | Report comment
Basson and Olivier must be the weakest backs bench I’ve ever seen … wait the Wallabies had Harris and Faingaa didn’t they, I take it back.
June 14th 2012 @ 9:57am
Rusty said | June 14th 2012 @ 9:57am | Report comment
Agree with Olivier who knows only route one but disagree with Basson. Great finisher, lightning quick, safe under the highball and has an x factor. Seen him score some great tries over the years from pure individual brilliance
Totally agree on the Finger & Harris comment. Although I would say Anthony is better than his front row twin who is one of the most overrated hookers I have ever seen.
June 14th 2012 @ 2:34pm
Joshy said | June 14th 2012 @ 2:34pm | Report comment
I enjoy Basson at super level. But he is not only too lightweight – but he lacks aggression. If you lack weight, you have to be like a pitbull ala Aplon.
I suspect the players I want in the 22 will come eventually – through the lesser players being exposed and dropped or injury.
June 14th 2012 @ 1:48pm
Gerrard said | June 14th 2012 @ 1:48pm | Report comment
Yay, no sideshowbob (Kirchner)!!!
June 14th 2012 @ 2:16pm
Amateur Hour said | June 14th 2012 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
Lambie is class. He will only improve the side. Thought they may have went with Mvovo over Basson given the combinations with Lambie and Pietersen that he’s built at the Sharks, but I’ve got no dramas with Basson. He’s lightning quick and good under the high ball.
I really though any one of four Boks – Habana, Hougaard, B du Plessis or Alberts could have got man of the match last week. It was a pretty impressive team display and the scoreline flattered the tourists courtesy of M Steyn’s off night with the boot.
For England, their no.6, who was on debut I think, was eye catching as was the boot on the fullback, but unfortunately not much else. If Toby Flood is fit, why is he not starting ahead of Farrell?
June 14th 2012 @ 8:23pm
Original Ben S said | June 14th 2012 @ 8:23pm | Report comment
Stuart Lancaster seems to be a conservative selector, and so Farrell started alongside his club colleague Barritt at 12. Farrell has a good kicking game and is a robust defender, but struggles badly on attack. I suspect Lancaster felt he deserved an opportunity to hold on to the jersey he finished wearing during the 6N. It was also apparent that Lancaster had given the side a pretty limited game plan on the weekend, which would have suited Farrell’s game. Flood has been selected to start at altitude, which is pretty overdue IMO.
June 15th 2012 @ 12:50pm
tubby said | June 15th 2012 @ 12:50pm | Report comment
Mvovo has shown at super level he’s fast but nothing else, he never creates his own opportunities and he’s not as hardworking as habana. Basson is fast, creative and great at harrasing on kicks.