Springboks debuts for trio
Wednesday 1 December 2010 14:36, UK
Andries Strauss, Elton Jantjies and Coenie Oosthuizen will all make their South Africa debuts against the Barbarians on Saturday.
Strauss, Jantjies and Oosthuizen to start against Baa-Baas
Centre Andries Strauss, fly-half Elton Jantjies and prop Coenie Oosthuizen will all make their South Africa debuts against the Barbarians at Twickenham on Saturday. Springboks coach Peter de Villiers has made 12 changes to the side that defeated England in the final Test match of their autumn campaign. Skipper Victor Matfield along with Jean de Villiers, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis and Zane Kirchner have all been ruled out of the contest through injury. Ruan Pienaar and Francois Steyn have returned to club sides Ulster and Racing Metro respectively, as the match takes place outside the International Rugby Board's international window. Juan Smith will captain the side in the absence of Matfield, while scrum-half Charl McLeod could make it four debutants if he comes of the bench.Starts
As well as new boys Strauss, Jantjies and Oosthuizen, seven players - Patrick Lambie, Odwa Ndungane, Adi Jacobs, Willem Alberts, Adriaan Strauss, Alistair Hargreaves and CJ van der Linde - are also handed their first starts of the tour. "The newcomers have been waiting for their chance and will bring energy and enthusiasm to the line-up at the end of a long season," De Villiers said. "They have trained well and been patient throughout the tour and this is their chance to show what they can do. "The Barbarians have brought together a very exciting team that is definitely made to play rugby in the traditional Barbarian style. Nick [Mallett, Barbarians coach] will have taken note of what is an untried backline combination and there's no doubt he'll be focusing his attention there. "But Juan Smith and the players are determined to maintain the improvements of this tour and this game is set to be a fascinating contest." South Africa team to play the Barbarians: 15 P Lambie, 14 O Ndungane, 13 A Jacobs, 12 A Strauss, 11 L Mvovo, 10 E Jantjies, 9 F Hougaard, 8 R Kankowski, 7 J Smith (capt), 6 W Alberts, 5 A Hargreaves, 4 B Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 A Strauss, 1 C Oosthuizen.Replacements: 16 B Maku, 17 T Mtawarira, 18 W Kruger, 19 F van der Merwe, 20 K Daniel, 21 C McLeod, 22 G Aplon.
