Rugby Championship
Springboks hand Mohoje first start
ESPN Staff
September 24, 2014
Teboho Mohoje in training, September 9, 2014
Teboho 'Oupa' Mohoje will start at the weekend © Getty Images
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The Springboks have handed Teboho 'Oupa' Mohoje his first start ahead of Saturday's game against Australia in Cape Town.

Mahoje comes into the side for the injured Francois Louw with Marcell Coetzee switching to the other flank of the back-row. Francois Hougaard also starts for the Springboks as he replaces Ruan Pienaar who is also sidelined through injury.

The bench sees Bakkies Botha, JP Pietersen and Schalk Burger all named and Heyneke Meyer explained the team selection, saying: "Injuries forced our hand with Francois and Ruan Pienaar not available, but Hougie and Oupa have been part of the squad for the entire season and I've got the utmost confidence in them making the step up.

"Francois brings different strengths to the team at No 9 and has an opportunity to demonstrate the contribution he can make on Saturday, while Oupa is more of a traditional blindside flanker who will get another opportunity to show what he can do in his breakthrough season. He has really come on in leaps and bounds this season and responded to the goals set for him."

The Springboks lost to Australia back on September 6 and Meyer is anticipating a tough challenge at the weekend. "It will be a very tough outing and we will have to fire on all cylinders for the full 80 minutes," he said. "It's great to be back in South Africa after three tough matches on the road and we're really looking forward to playing in front of our own supporters again.

"We've had a couple of great training sessions and have been working hard on all aspects of our game this week. There is a definite resolve to improve the quality of our performance on Saturday."

South Africa: Willie le Roux, Cornal Hendricks, Jan Serfontein, Jean de Villiers (captain), Bryan Habana, Handre Pollard, Francois Hougaard; Tendai Mtawarira, Adriaan Strauss, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Victor Matfield, Marcell Coetzee, Teboho Mohoje, Duane Vermeulen

Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, Trevor Nyakane, Marcel van der Merwe, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger, Cobus Reinach, Pat Lambie, JP Pietersen

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