The South Africa coach, Heyneke Meyer, has remained loyal to the players who beat New Zealand last month by naming an unchanged starting team for their match against Ireland on Saturday.
The only change to the match-day squad is at replacement prop, where Coenie Oosthuizen comes in for the injured Marcel van der Merwe. “It’s only the fifth time in what will be the 34th Test since I was appointed as Springbok coach that I’ve been able to select an unchanged starting lineup,” Meyer said. Meanwhile Rory Best has been ruled out for Ireland with a calf strain.
“In this day and age not making changes to teams is pretty much unheard of, but this is a great position we’re in. However, we need to make it count against a very tough Irish side on Saturday.
“Although we won our last Test, the challenge this week is to make another step up. It’s imperative that we improve in all facets of our play.”
Meyer said he had thought of giving the uncapped Lions prop Julian Redelinghuys a spot on the bench in the place of Van der Merwe but opted for the greater experience of Oosthuizen.
“Although Julian Redelinghuys was also considered, he’s still new in the team and not familiar with our patterns of play and especially the lineout calls, while Coenie knows the way we play well,” said Meyer. “Coenie is also in great shape and we know what he can do, especially if he has to make an impact off the bench. It’s good to have him back.”
The selection of the 20-year-old rookie fly-half Handre Pollard over the more precise boot of Morne Steyn suggests the Boks will look to run the ball more, as they did in defeating the All Blacks 27-25 in their last Test on 4 October. After Ireland, South Africa play England, Italy and Wales.
South Africa team to face Ireland
W le Roux; C Hendricks, J Serfontein, J de Villiers (capt), B Habana; H Pollard, F Hougaard; D Vermeulen, T Mohoje, M Coetzee, V Matfield, E Etzebeth, J du Plessis, B du Plessis, T Mtawarira. Replacements A Strauss, T Nyakane, C Oosthuizen, B Botha, S Burger, C Reinach, P Lambie, JP Pietersen
