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Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer
Cape Town – The retention of Ryan Kankowski at No 8 and merciful “rest” opportunities for Victor Matfield and Beast Mtawarira.
Those are the key features of the Springbok team to play Italy in Udine on Saturday.
That is the line-up revealed on Thursday on the official website of SuperSport commentator and former Bok captain Bob Skinstad (www.bobskinstad.co.za).
It will feature an entirely unchanged backline from the one which represented South Africa in the 20-13 defeat to France, with Adi Jacobs retaining the inside centre spot despite the strong challenge of Wynand Olivier, who stays on the bench.
But there is a significant reshuffle of the under-fire pack, much of it brought on by injuries to senior stalwarts like Bismarck du Plessis and Schalk Burger.
In a surprise move, it appears the Sharks’ Ryan Kankowski, whose hands let him down in the Toulouse reverse, will keep the No 8 jersey, with Danie Rossouw occupying the blindside flank position in place of Burger.
The second row sees an apparent start for Andries Bekker in place of Matfield, who has understandably looked a little jaded on tour after a year of herculean lineout and other exertions and earns a place on the bench.
Similarly, Beast Mtawarira will be among the reserves as well, marking the end of a lengthy stint as starting loosehead prop.
New Test cap Wian du Preez of the Cheetahs will instead be tasked with taming the Italian tighthead colossus Martin Castrogiovanni, with provincial team-mate Adriaan Strauss alongside him at No 2 in place of the crocked Du Plessis.
BJ Botha, among a growing crop of late call-ups to the embattled tour, also finds a place on the bench, as does Jean Deysel, who would have been many pundits’ pick for a start in the No 7 jersey.
Springbok team:
Zane Kirchner, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Adi Jacobs, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Ryan Kankowski, Danie Rossouw, Heinrich Brussow, Andries Bekker, Bakkies Botha, John Smit (captain), Adriaan Strauss, Wian du Preez. Reserves: Beast Mtawarira, BJ Botha, Victor Matfield, Jean Deysel, Francois Hougaard, Ruan Pienaar, Wynand Olivier.
Cape Town – The retention of Ryan Kankowski at No 8 and merciful “rest” opportunities for Victor Matfield and Beast Mtawarira.
Those are the key features of the Springbok team to play Italy in Udine on Saturday.
That is the line-up revealed on Thursday on the official website of SuperSport commentator and former Bok captain Bob Skinstad (www.bobskinstad.co.za).
It will feature an entirely unchanged backline from the one which represented South Africa in the 20-13 defeat to France, with Adi Jacobs retaining the inside centre spot despite the strong challenge of Wynand Olivier, who stays on the bench.
But there is a significant reshuffle of the under-fire pack, much of it brought on by injuries to senior stalwarts like Bismarck du Plessis and Schalk Burger.
In a surprise move, it appears the Sharks’ Ryan Kankowski, whose hands let him down in the Toulouse reverse, will keep the No 8 jersey, with Danie Rossouw occupying the blindside flank position in place of Burger.
The second row sees an apparent start for Andries Bekker in place of Matfield, who has understandably looked a little jaded on tour after a year of herculean lineout and other exertions and earns a place on the bench.
Similarly, Beast Mtawarira will be among the reserves as well, marking the end of a lengthy stint as starting loosehead prop.
New Test cap Wian du Preez of the Cheetahs will instead be tasked with taming the Italian tighthead colossus Martin Castrogiovanni, with provincial team-mate Adriaan Strauss alongside him at No 2 in place of the crocked Du Plessis.
BJ Botha, among a growing crop of late call-ups to the embattled tour, also finds a place on the bench, as does Jean Deysel, who would have been many pundits’ pick for a start in the No 7 jersey.
Springbok team:
Zane Kirchner, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Adi Jacobs, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Ryan Kankowski, Danie Rossouw, Heinrich Brussow, Andries Bekker, Bakkies Botha, John Smit (captain), Adriaan Strauss, Wian du Preez. Reserves: Beast Mtawarira, BJ Botha, Victor Matfield, Jean Deysel, Francois Hougaard, Ruan Pienaar, Wynand Olivier.
