 |
| Getty Images |
Australia and South Africa have both drafted in new fly-halves for Saturday's Rugby Championship clash.
Kurtley Beale will play his first Test at fly-half for the Wallabies, replacing the injured Quade Cooper.
Johan Goosen takes over from the under-fire Morne Steyn for the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
"It was a very difficult decision but I have to look after the team's interests first and then the individual's," said South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer.
"Morne really wanted to play, especially at Loftus, his home ground, but he is a true champion and he took my decision gracefully."
South Africa lost 21-11 to New Zealand in Dunedin last time out and are looking to avenge a 26-19 loss to Australia earlier this month.
The other changes to the team see a new lock pairing of Eben Etzebeth and Andries Bekker starting at Loftus Versfeld, while inside centre Francois Steyn is recovering from a twisted ankle and could yet be replaced by debutant Jaco Taute.
Beale will start his 30th Test for Australia in unfamiliar surroundings at number 10, with Berrick Barnes shifting to full-back and assuming the kicking duties.
"The number might be new but his role within the game won't be," coach Robbie Deans said of Beale.
"Although his season hasn't been without challenge, Kurtley stepped up with his involvements on the Gold Coast, making a difference when he was on the field.
"He's brought that enthusiasm forward with him since we've been in South Africa, has worked hard on the training track, and is excited about the opportunity ahead. He has good memories from some of his experiences over here."
New Zealand are eight points clear of Australia in the standings and they take on Argentina in La Plata in the early hours of Sunday (BST) in the penultimate round of matches.
The Pumas, who have never beaten the All Blacks, have chosen the same starting side which narrowly lost to Australia last time out, with two changes on the bench, prop Marcos Ayerza and lock Tomas Vallejos coming into the 22.
Fly-half Daniel Carter looks likely to return to the All Blacks side after missing the last two games with a calf injury. The world champions could wrap up the title with a game to spare if they win.
TEAM LINE-UPS:
South Africa: Zane Kirchner, Bryan Habana, Jean de Villiers (captain), Francois Steyn or Jaco Taute, Francois Hougaard; Johan Goosen, Ruan Pienaar; Tendai Mtawarira, Adriaan Strauss, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Andries Bekker; Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Duane Vermeulen. Replacements: Tiaan Liebenberg, Coenie Oosthuizen, Flip van der Merwe, Marcell Coetzee, Elton Jantjies, Jaco Taute or Juan de Jongh, Patrick Lambie.
Australia: Berrick Barnes, Dominic Shipperley, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane, Kurtley Beale, Nick Phipps; Benn Robinson, Tatafu Polota Nau, Ben Alexander, Kane Douglas, Nathan Sharpe (captain), Dave Dennis, Michael Hooper, Radike Samo. Replacements: Saia Fainga'a, James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Scott Higginbotham, Liam Gill, Brett Sheehan, Anthony Fainga'a.
Argentina: Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Gonzalo Camacho, Marcelo Bosch, Santiago Fernandez, Horacio Agulla, Juan Martin Hernandez, Martin Landajo; Rodrigo Roncero, Eusebio Guinazu, Juan Figallo, Manuel Carizza, Patricio Albacete, Julio Farias Cabello, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (captain). Replacements: Agustin Creevy, Marcos Ayerza, Tomas Vallejos, Tomas Leonardi, Nicolas Vergallo, Martin Rodriguez, Juan Imhoff.
New Zealand: TBC
No comments:
Post a Comment