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Edinburgh - Coach Peter de Villiers on Tuesday made three changes to the Springbok starting XV and one positional switch for Saturday’s Test against Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.
Zane Kirchner, Francois Hougaard and Ryan Kankowski were all promoted to the starting line up while Gio Aplon moves from fullback to wing from the team that defeated Wales 29-25 in Cardiff on Saturday.
In addition hooker Adriaan Strauss and wing Lwazi Mvovo are involved in a match-day 22 for the first time on tour as they were drafted onto the bench.
Bjorn Basson’s injury and subsequent suspension made him unavailable for the right wing position and his place is taken by Gio Aplon, who moves from fullback. Aplon’s No 15 jersey is taken by Zane Kirchner who moves up from the bench.
Francois Hougaard is given the starting position at scrumhalf after his cameo performance from the bench on Saturday, while Ryan Kankowski comes straight into the starting XV at eighthman.
“We’ve got a talented squad and a long tour like this gives us an opportunity to try out a few options,” said Peter de Villiers.
“Francois Hougaard played well for us in the Tri-Nations and did well when he came on on Saturday and brings a different style.
“Ryan is one of two talented eighthmen in the squad and we wanted to give him an opportunity to show us what he can do.”
The changes on the bench are caused by the departures of Basson and Chiliboy Ralepelle, who returned a positive test for a banned stimulant following the Test against Ireland on November 6.
Adriaan Strauss comes onto the bench as the replacement hooker and the uncapped Lwazi Mvovo takes the place of Kirchner as a backline replacement.
De Villiers added that the squad had now put the shock of the positive results behind them.
“There is a process in place in these cases and that is now being followed. As a squad we have moved on and are focusing only on Scotland.”
Teams:
Scotland
TBA
South Africa:
15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Francois Steyn, 12. Jean de Villiers, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Morne Steyn, 9. Francois Hougaard, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Juan Smith, 6. Deon Stegmann, 5. Victor Matfield, 4. Bakkies Botha, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Beast Mtawarira
Replacements: 16. Adriaan Strauss, 17. CJ van der Linde, 18. Flip van der Merwe, 19. Willem Alberts, 20. Ruan Pienaar, 21. Patrick Lambie, 22. Lwazi Mvovo
Zane Kirchner, Francois Hougaard and Ryan Kankowski were all promoted to the starting line up while Gio Aplon moves from fullback to wing from the team that defeated Wales 29-25 in Cardiff on Saturday.
In addition hooker Adriaan Strauss and wing Lwazi Mvovo are involved in a match-day 22 for the first time on tour as they were drafted onto the bench.
Bjorn Basson’s injury and subsequent suspension made him unavailable for the right wing position and his place is taken by Gio Aplon, who moves from fullback. Aplon’s No 15 jersey is taken by Zane Kirchner who moves up from the bench.
Francois Hougaard is given the starting position at scrumhalf after his cameo performance from the bench on Saturday, while Ryan Kankowski comes straight into the starting XV at eighthman.
“We’ve got a talented squad and a long tour like this gives us an opportunity to try out a few options,” said Peter de Villiers.
“Francois Hougaard played well for us in the Tri-Nations and did well when he came on on Saturday and brings a different style.
“Ryan is one of two talented eighthmen in the squad and we wanted to give him an opportunity to show us what he can do.”
The changes on the bench are caused by the departures of Basson and Chiliboy Ralepelle, who returned a positive test for a banned stimulant following the Test against Ireland on November 6.
Adriaan Strauss comes onto the bench as the replacement hooker and the uncapped Lwazi Mvovo takes the place of Kirchner as a backline replacement.
De Villiers added that the squad had now put the shock of the positive results behind them.
“There is a process in place in these cases and that is now being followed. As a squad we have moved on and are focusing only on Scotland.”
Teams:
Scotland
TBA
South Africa:
15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Francois Steyn, 12. Jean de Villiers, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Morne Steyn, 9. Francois Hougaard, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Juan Smith, 6. Deon Stegmann, 5. Victor Matfield, 4. Bakkies Botha, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Beast Mtawarira
Replacements: 16. Adriaan Strauss, 17. CJ van der Linde, 18. Flip van der Merwe, 19. Willem Alberts, 20. Ruan Pienaar, 21. Patrick Lambie, 22. Lwazi Mvovo
