Franco Mostert, Jean-Luc du Preez and Ruan Dreyer to start against All Blacks
Allister Coetzee made three changes to his starting line-up for Saturday's crucial match against the All Blacks.
Franco Mostert and Jean-Luc du Preez are back in the Springbok starting team for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash against the All Blacks at the QBE Stadium in Albany, north of Auckland.
The Lions lock, who was rested last week in Perth, will take over the No 5 jersey while Pieter-Steph du Toit is named as the utility forward cover on the bench, with Du Preez promoted to the starting team for the second time this season, in the place of the injured Jaco Kriel.
The third and final change to the run-on team is in the front row, where Ruan Dreyer comes in at tighthead prop as replacement for the injured Coenie Oosthuizen, who has returned home after suffering a broken arm in the Wallabies clash.
The rest of the match day squad remains the same, which gives the Bok starting team with a combined total of 300 Test caps a settled look and another chance to improve on their continuity.
“Pieter-Steph did very well when he stepped in for Franco last weekend in a rotational switch. But Franco had five superb matches before he was rested last week, he is refreshed again and I expect another strong performance from him as his high work rate is much needed,” said Springbok coach Allister Coetzee.
Coetzee also said Dreyer did well when he replaced Frans Malherbe against a powerful French front row in June and he will start on Saturday because they want to persist with Trevor Nyakane and Steven Kitshoff as a combination off the bench to make an impact in the second half.
According to Coetzee, this contest is the ultimate test for the Springboks, who are the only unbeaten international team in 2017 after six Tests.
“They are the number one side in the world both in rankings and experience and there is no greater contest than to play them in New Zealand,” said Coetzee.
Coetzee emphasized that the rivalry between the two sides are filled with rich history, and on Saturday his team will get an opportunity to be part of that. According to him is the All Blacks are always at their best when playing the Springboks and another huge battle is to be expected.
“There are no room for errors against the All Blacks because they will punish you for every mistake. We prepared well for this challenge and we will get another opportunity to gain more valuable experience as we continue to grow as a team,” Coetzee concluded.
Eben Etzebeth will earn his 60th Test cap on Saturday and he will captain the side for the fifth time this year.
The Springbok side to face the All Blacks in Albany: 15. Andries Coetzee (Lions), 14. Raymond Rhule (Cheetahs), 13. Jesse Kriel (Bulls), 12. Jan Serfontein (Bulls), 11. Courtnall Skosan (Lions), 10. Elton Jantjies (Lions), 9. Ross Cronje (Lions), 8. Uzair Cassiem (Cheetahs) 7. Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks), 6. Siya Kolisi (Stormers), 5. Franco Mostert (Lions), 4. Eben Etzebeth (captain, Stormers), 3. Ruan Dreyer (Lions), 2. Malcolm Marx (Lions), 1. Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks). Replacements: 16. Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers), 17. Steven Kitshoff (Stormers), 18. Trevor Nyakane (Bulls), 19. Lood de Jager (Bulls), 20. Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), 21. Francois Hougaard (Worcester Warriors, England), 22. Handré Pollard (Bulls), 23. Damian de Allende (Stormers).
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