By Jason Humphries
DURBAN, June 6 (Reuters) – South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer
named three debutants on Wednesday in his starting XV for the
first test against England in Durban on Saturday.
Locks Juandre Kruger (26) and Eben Etzebeth (20) and flank
Marcell Coetzee (21) will make their first test appearances
against England while replacement prop Coenie Oosthuizen is also
in line for his first test cap.
Despite the newcomers, the Springbok team chosen to play
England boast a combined 458 caps. Nine players are retained
from South Africa’s last match, a World Cup quarter-final defeat
to Australia last year.
Kruger and Etzebeth have the huge task of replacing former
captain Victor Matfield and his second-row partner Bakkies Botha
but Meyer said he was confident that they would rise to the
challenge.
“It’s quite a new thing for South Africa to have two
uncapped locks starting. It will be a huge step up for them and
they need to prove that they can play at this level,” Meyer told
a news conference.
“Marcell Coetzee has played great rugby the whole year and I
believe he will be a superstar in years to come. They have all
proved themselves in Super Rugby and I am confident that all
three will acquit themselves well,” he added.
Hooker Bismarck du Plessis was named as the team’s
vice-captain.
“I believe that Bismarck is a great leader and I’m very
happy with what I’ve seen with him,” Meyer said. “He brings
something different to the party.”
Continued…
