Openside flanker Heinrich Brussow will make his first start for South Africa in Saturday’s first Test against the British and Irish Lions in Durban.
Brussow, 22, joined the squad on Sunday in place of Schalk Burger, who has failed to recover from a calf injury.
Although Brussow impressed for the Free State Cheetahs when they lost to 26-24 to the Lions, Springbok captain John Smit said he had been selected because of his performances throughout the season.
“He is very good at what he does,” Smit told a news conference yesterday. “He has not been picked on one performance against the Lions.”
“He has been picked on how much he has irritated every single team he has played against in the Super 14,” he said.
There were no major surprises in the South Africa team with flyhalf and full-back being the only contentious positions.
Ruan Pienaar, the incumbent fly-half, holds on to his position despite missing a large part of the Super 14 season with injury while utility back Frans Steyn was named at full-back.
“Frans is a player that can carry the ball up well, he can take the high ball and he has a good kicking game,” South Africa assistant coach Dick Muir said.
“It was a horses for courses decision. The way that we have seen the Lions play, we felt that Frans was the best candidate for that position,” he said.
Muir said Pienaar was feeling confident with his game.
“He is one of those players that, when he is confident, can really step it up and we have got all the confidence in the world in Ruan’s abilities,” he said.
Smit said the Durban Test would set the tone for the rest of the three-match series.
“There is no point thinking about the three Tests in advance. As cliched as it sounds, the first Test will decide what direction the series takes,” he said.
There is only one uncapped player in the South Africa 22 with Bulls fly-half Morne Steyn included on the bench.
• South Africa:
15-Frans Steyn, 14-JP Pietersen, 13-Adrian Jacobs, 12-Jean de Villiers, 11-Bryan Habana, 10-Ruan Pienaar, 9-Fourie du Preez, 8-Pierre Spies, 7-Juan Smith, 6-Heinrich Brussow, 5-Victor Matfield, 4-Bakkies Botha, 3-John Smit, 2-Bismarck du Plessis, 1-Tendai Mtawarira.
• Replacements:
16-Gurthro Steenkamp, 17-Deon Carstens, 18-Andries Bekker, 19-Danie Rossouw, 20-Ricky Januarie, 21-Jaque Fourie, 22-Morne Steyn.
TAIWANESE EXITS: Fellow Australian Christopher O’Connell joined Tristan Schoolkate as a winner following his 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Tseng Hsin-chun Australian qualifier Tristan Schoolkate on Monday dispatched rising Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 at the ATP Toronto Masters, ensuring a breakthrough into the world top 100. The 24-year-old from Perth moved to 98th in the ongoing live rankings as he claimed his biggest career victory by knocking out the ATP NextGen champion from November last year. Schoolkate, son of a tennis coach, won his first match over a top-50 opponent on his sixth attempt as he ousted the world No. 49 teenager from Brazil. The qualifier played a quarter-final this month in Los Cabos and won through qualifying for his
Top seeds Alexander Zverev of Germany and American Coco Gauff on Tuesday advanced to the third round of the Canadian Open after both players were pushed hard by their opponents. World No. 3 Zverev, playing in his first match since his first-round loss at Wimbledon, was far from his best, but emerged with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 win over Adam Walton under the lights in Toronto. Momentum shifted firmly in Zverev’s favor when he won a 52-shot rally in the first set tiebreak and he sealed the win on a double fault by the Australian in the second set. “It was a very
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future. “Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said. Verstappen has a contract with
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
RSS