The Springboks

1. Beast Mtawarira
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. John Smit (c)
4. Bakkies Botha
5. Victor Matfield
6. Heinrich Brussow
7. Juan Smith
8. Pierre Spies
9. Fouire du Preez
10. Morne Steyn
11. Bryan Habana
12. Jean de Villiers
13. Jaque Fourie
14. JP Pietersen
15. Frans Steyn

16. Chiliboy Ralepelle
17. Jannie du Plessis
18. Danie Rossouw
19. Andries Bekker
20. Ricky Januarie
21. Adi Jacobs
22. Wynand Olivier

It’s a largely unchanged Springbok side from the one that beat the All Blacks in Bloemfontein last weekend. The forward pack is unchanged with just one change on the bench, Andries Bekker coming in for Ryan Kankowski. Bekker seems to be a favourite amongst the coaching staff, and may replace Bakkies Botha, in which case who does Danie Rousouw come on for. You can’t replace victor Matfield. Can you? The only logical scenario I could see would be to put on Danie Rousouw for Juan Smith. 

In the backline, the addition of Morne Steyn gives us greater goalkicking reliability, but may rob us of Ruan Pienaar’s silky running skills. I’d have preferred an outside back as opposed to having two centres on the bench.

Still it’s a run on side that can and is expected to do the damage to the All Blacks. If we gain the forward momentum like we did in Bloemfontein, some of the reserves may be able to come on and wreak a bit of havoc that we need to get a 4 try bonus point. it could be crucial at the end of the competition.