Three Bok debutants

Published: Tuesday, 19. July, 2011 in category Southern Hemisphere

South Africa have named three debutants for their opening Tri-Nations match, against Australia in Sydney on Saturday.

Props Dean Greyling and Werner Kruger, as well as loose forward Ashley Johnson, will make their first appearances for the injury-hit Springboks.

The team will be led by record-breaking hooker John Smit, who will make his 103rd Test appearance in the game.

The contains four other World Cup winners in Wynand Olivier, Ruan Pienaar, Danie Rossouw and Johan Muller.

A sixth, CJ van der Linde, is on the bench as the replacement prop.

Heinrich Brüssow was not considered as he continues his rehabilitation from a knee injury.

Uncapped scrumhalf Charl McLeod was named on the bench.

Three of the four potential new caps have appeared in non-Test Springbok matches - the exception is Dean Greyling.

"The new caps had outstanding Super Rugby seasons and this is an exciting opportunity for them," said coach Peter de Villiers.

"They have been rewarded for their form and now it's up to them.

"We have got some new combinations, but there is a lot of potential in this side and the players are hungry for this chance."

Joint Super Rugby top try scorer, Bjorn Basson (nine tries), was named on one wing with Lwazi Mvovo – who was tied for second on the SA scoring log with six – was named on the other in a backline also featuring the pace and elusiveness of Gio Aplon and Juan de Jongh.

The experienced trio of halfbacks Ruan Pienaar and Morné Steyn and inside centre Wynand Oliver complete the backline.

Lock Flip van der Merwe gets the chance to step out of his understudy role to the injured Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield, while Bulls pairing of Deon Stegmann and Danie Rossouw partner Johnson in the back row.

The following players will make their Tri-Nations debut: Lwazi Mvovo, Bjorn Basson, Ashley Johnson, Deon Stegmann, Werner Kruger and Dean Greyling and, should they be used as a substitute, Alistair Hargreaves, Jean Deysel, Charl McLeod and Patrick Lambie.

South Africa: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Juan De Jongh, 12 Wynand Oliver, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Danie Rossouw, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Johann Muller, 4 Flip Van Der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ Van Der Linde, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Adrian Jacobs, 22 Patrick Lambie.

Date: Saturday, July 23
Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 20.00 (10.00 GMT)
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
TMO: Matt Goddard (Australia)