Rugby World Cup
Springboks ring the changes after Japan defeat
ESPN Staff
September 23, 2015
'Hurting' Springboks out to restore reputation

South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has benched more than half of the team that lost to Japan in their opening Rugby World Cup match, but captain Jean de Villiers has kept his place for the showdown with Samoa.

Veteran hooker Bismarck du Plessis and halfback duo Ruan Pienaar and Pat Lambie were among the casualties as the Springboks regroup following the stunning 34-32 defeat in Brighton.

De Villiers will replace Jesse Kriel at outside centre, while full-back Zane Kirchner, wing Lwazi Mvovo and forwards Lood de Jager and Pieter-Steph du Toit.

There will be a partnership of youth and experience in the halfbacks as veteran scrumhalf Fourie du Preez returns to the side for his first Test in more than a year alongside 20-year-old flyhalf Handre Pollard.

South Africa captain Jean de Villiers
South Africa captain Jean de Villiers© Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images

Damian de Allende comes in at inside centre for 34-year-old De Villiers, whose own place was far from guaranteed after the Japan performance, admitted Meyer.

"I thought long and hard but I did not want to make an emotional decision. It is a must-win game. I had a long and hard chat with Jean," Meyer said.

"I just decided as a coach that if you going into a fight and you have to win, with the whole country depending on it, if you are going into that fight you want to have a guy with you has had six knee operations and has comeback to win over 100 caps playing for me.

"I know he is a fighter and it's best for the team. I know it's a right choice."

South Africa:

Le Roux, Pietersen, De Villiers (captain), De Allende, Habana, Pollard, Du Preez; Mtawarira, Strauss, Du Plessis, Etzebeth, Matfield, Louw, Burger, Vermeulen.

Replacements: Brits, Nyakane, Malherbe, De Jager, Kolisi, Pienaar, Lambie, Kriel.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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