South Africa v France, Cape Town, June 12
James handed a second chance
Scrum.com
June 7, 2010
Butch James has been retained in the South Africa squad to face France
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Butch James has been granted another chance to rekindle his Test career after being retained in the South Africa squad for Saturday's meeting with France in Cape Town. The Bath fly-half was barred by Premier Rugby from playing in the Springboks' 34-31 win over Wales in Cardiff last weekend due to the game falling outside of the IRB's designated Test window but has been handed a second chance. The same is not true for the other overseas players granted game-time in Cardiff, with Racing Metro fullback Frans Steyn, Toulon No.8 Joe van Niekerk and prop CJ van der Linde all omitted. Injured Sharks wing Odwa Ndungane and unused Cheetahs centre Meyer Bosman have also been left out. Returning to action are Bakkies Botha, Wynand Olivier, Pierre Spies, Gurthro Steenkamp, Morne Steyn and Flip van der Merwe of the Bulls, Schalk Burger and Bryan Habana of the Stormers and Munster's Jean de Villiers, with de Villiers currently fighting against a shoulder injury in order to take part on Saturday. Head coach Peter De Villiers also confirmed that scrum-half Fourie du Preez would undergo surgery on a long-standing shoulder injury, ruling him out for the next six months. "Fourie is very important to us but so is his welfare and the time is right for him to sort this injury out," he said. "We will miss him but it is important that he is available and fit at the world cup next year. We have adequate cover in the scrum-half position too. "France are the Six Nations champions and they beat us last year so this is a big match. We know they can be dangerous and this will be a tough, tough Test." South Africa squad: Backs: Zane Kirchner (Bulls), Gio Aplon (Stormers), Bjorn Basson (Cheetahs), Jaque Fourie (Stormers), Jean de Villiers (Munster), Wynand Olivier (Bulls), Juan de Jongh (Stormers), Butch James (Bath), Morné Steyn (Bulls), Bryan Habana (Stormers), Ruan Pienaar (Sharks), Ricky Januarie (Stormers) Forwards: Pierre Spies (Bulls), Ryan Kankowski (Sharks), Dewald Potgieter (Bulls), Francois Louw (Stormers), Schalk Burger (Stormers), Bakkies Botha (Bulls), Flip van der Merwe (Bulls), Danie Rossouw (Bulls), Victor Matfield (Bulls), Alistair Hargreaves (Sharks), BJ Botha (Ulster), John Smit (captain), Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls), Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), Gurthrö Steenkamp (Bulls) © Scrum.com
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