By Jason Humphries
CAPE TOWN Aug 15 (Reuters) – Keegan Daniel will make his
first test start for South Africa when he lines up at number
eight for their Rugby Championship opener against Argentina in
Cape Town on Saturday.
Daniel, 27, who captained the Sharks to the Super Rugby
final this season, has made three substitute appearances for the
Springboks since making his test debut against Ireland in 2010.
Daniel starts in place of the Pierre Spies, who was ruled
out of the tournament on Tuesday with a finger injury.
While Daniel has experience at the back of the scrum, his
regular position is as a flanker and concerns have been raised
that, at 1.88 metres and weighing 94 kgs he may be too small for
the international game.
Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer rejected these suggestions on
Wednesday and clearly has no qualms about Daniel’s ability to
perform at the highest level.
“Keegan has been playing really well in Super Rugby and he
has put up his hand,” Meyer told a news conference in Cape Town.
“It is a setback losing someone of Pierre’s experience but I
think that Keegan is the logical choice to replace Pierre. It is
a step up and it is in his hands now to see if he can play at
this level. What you lose in physicality with Keegan you gain
with the X-factor he brings to the team,” he added.
South Africa’s starting XV to face Argentina features six
changes to the team who drew 14-14 with England in the third
test in June.
Continued…
