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Taupo - Springbok backline coach Dick Muir said on Wednesday the inclusion of Frans Steyn ahead of Jean de Villiers at centre was reward for what he had brought to the side and that De Villiers would get a chance to win back his position.
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"You give another guy a gap and he takes it and you have to fight your way back in," Muir said.
"We know Jean is a very special player and he will get an opportunity to prove that."
The Bok backline coach was also pleased with the reinforcement at his disposal.
As is the case with De Villiers - who should be eager to win back his starting jersey - Muir said Butch James was also waiting in the wings.
"He (James) is one of those players who doesn’t get flustered with the bigger moments and he has been training hard," said Muir.
"The fortunate thing with Butch is that he has a World Cup winning medal around his neck. He played at flyhalf and has a huge amount of experience."
Incumbent flyhalf Morné Steyn is so far the tournament’s most accurate contributor with the boot at 85 percent, having converted 17 from his 20 attempts at goal.
"We are looking for constant improvement, there are lots of areas in our game which we are still not happy with. We are always looking for that ultimate game, but overall we are looking for improvement in quite a few areas."
The Springboks take on Samoa on Friday in their final Pool D match of the tournament, and pending other results, could still be eliminated if they lose.
Muir emphasised that at this stage only the All Blacks were certain qualifiers.
"This is really an important game for us, so you could see it as a knockout game."
This week only Bakkies Botha was not considered for selection because of injury.
Teams:South Africa:
15 Pat Lambie, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Frans Steyn 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Substitutes: 16 John Smit, 17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 18 CJ van der Linde, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Jean de Villiers.
Samoa:
15 Paul Williams, 14 David Lemi, 13 Seilala Mapusua, 12 Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Tusi Pisi, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 George Stowers, 7 Maurie Faasavalu, 6 Taiasina Tuifua, 5 Kane Thompson, 4 Daniel Leo, 3 Census Johnston, 2 Mahonri Schwalger (captain), 1 Sakaria Taulafo.
Substitutes: 16 Ole Avei, 17 Anthony Perenise, 18 Logovi'i Mulipola, 19 Ofisa Treviranus, 20 Filipo Lavea Levi, 21 Junior Poluleuligaga, 22 George Pisi.
