Boks' best for Fiji showdown
Brad Morgan
5 October 2007
The Springbok team to tackle Fiji in the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Sunday has been named, and it includes tighthead prop CJ van der Linde. However, a final decision on his fitness will be taken on the day of the match only.
Van der Linde, who suffered a bruised right knee in training on Tueday, assumed the number one role at tighthead after BJ Botha damaged knee ligaments in the Boks' 64-15 win over the USA in their final Pool A match.
Cheetahs' front-ranker Jannie du Plessis has since flown to France to join the Springbok squad, arriving in the country on Thursday.
Eight bench players named
Due to the questions still surrounding Van der Linde's fitness, the SA selectors have
chosen to name a bench of eight players. It will be adjusted based on whether or not Van der Linde plays.
The starting fifteen appears to be the line-up the selectors believe to be their strongest team; apart from change in the front row because of Botha's injury, and the return of Schalk Burger from suspension, the side is the same as the one that crushed England 36-0 in Paris earlier in the tournament.
Burger, who turned out at eighthman against the US Eagles, has been chosen in his regular position on the flank, meaning Wikus van Heerden, who has performed exceptionally well throughout the event, moves down to the substitutes' bench.
Eighthman duo
Danie Rossouw is over the injury he suffered in the 30-25 win over Tonga and will start the match at the back of the pack. Late in the match, Burger is expected to move to number-eight, with Van Heerden taking over on the side of the scrum.
Between them the starting fifteen boasts a
South African record 639 test caps, with the front row of Os du Randt, captain John Smit, and Van der Linde responsible for 193 of them.
Fullback Percy Montgomery will earn his 92nd test cap, another SA record.
Jannie du Plessis has been included on the Bok bench, but there is no place for his brother Bismarck, who has been struggling with an injury to his lower back.
Injury assessment
The younger Du Plessis has had scans taken of the injury and will remain on at the World Cup. However, his condition will be reassessed on Monday; it had been feared that his tournament was over. As a result, Gary Botha has been included as back-up at hooker to captain John Smit.
Lock Johann Muller, who has been having difficulty overcoming a calf muscle problem is among the reserves, meaning Albert van den Berg, who earned his 50th cap when he started against the USA, is out of the line-up altogether.
South Africa has played Fiji only once
previously, in July 1996 at Loftus Versfeld, where the Springboks recorded a comfortable 43-18 victory.
Much has been made of the Fijians' shock 38-34 victory over Wales, which earned the Pacific islanders their place in the quarterfinals, but talk coming out of the South African camp is that the Boks fully expect to win, and to win comfortably on Sunday.
No mistakes
It is felt that the Welsh made a number of mistakes against the Fijians, mistakes that the Boks say they will not make. They include playing Fiji at their own game by throwing the ball around, not closing the Fijian backline down quickly and thus giving them room to move in, and turning over ball in the loose.
Fiji experienced huge problems in the tight phases against Wales and South Africa will look to put the Fijians to the sword up front, as well. Also, keyed by Victor Matfield, they will try to put pressure on the Fijian lineout. Against the USA, that tactic served the
Springboks exceptionally well.
The plan is to keep play structured, thus preventing Fiji from using their devastating running skills - so often seen in Sevens - to tear apart the South African defences.
Scoring leaders
Heading into the contest, Percy Montgomery, with 67 points, is the leading points' scorer at the World Cup, while Bryan Habana, with six tries, is just two shy of Jonah Lomu's World Cup record of eight at a single tournament.
South Africa's best performance in a Rugby World Cup quarterfinal came 12 years ago in 1995 when facing another of the Pacific island sides, Samoa, the Boks scored a 42-14 win.
While the Springboks' biggest concern ahead of the showdown is the position of tighthead prop, Fiji's biggest worry is at flyhalf. Nicky Little was injured in the win over Wales and his place in the crucial number-10 jersey will be taken by Seremaia Bai, usually a centre.
Just how well Bai adjusts to flyhalf could
play a major role in whether or not the Fijians manage to mount a meaningful challenge to the Boks.
SA Starting XV
Percy Montgomery, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Francois Steyn, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Fourie du Preez, Danie Rossouw, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, CJ van der Linde, John Smit (c), and Os du Randt
Substitutes
Gary Botha, Gurthro Steenkamp, Jannie du Plessis, Johann Muller, Wikus van Heerden, Ruan Pienaar, Wynand Olivier, Andre Pretorius
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