Scotland make changes for Springboks clash

SCOTLAND coach Ian McGeechan has made five changes to the side for tomorrow’s Test match against South Africa in Durban.

McGeechan, who is to be replaced by former Leinster coach Matt Williams after the World Cup, also made two positional switches following the 24-15 loss to the Barbarians last month.

Kenny Logan, Andy Henderson, captain Bryan Redpath, Jason White and Andrew Mower are the newcomers, with Chris Paterson switching from stand-off to a wing berth and Gregor Townsend playing stand-off instead of centre.

South Africa coach Rudolf Straeuli has also rung the changes, naming four uncapped players in a new-look starting XV to face the Scots.

Straeuli confirmed a starting line-up that includes the uncapped Ashwin Willemse, Wikus van Heerden, Hendrik Gerber and Richard Bands.

Gerber played for the midweek Boks in 2000 but has yet to start a Test match.

Two more uncapped players, utility back Gcobani Bobo and forward Juan Smith, are among the replacements.

Selborne Boome, Robbie Kempson, Cobus Visagie, Louis Koen and Trevor Halstead all return to the international rugby fold after an absence of a year or longer.

Straeuli, looking for a morale-boosting win after last autumn‘s disastrous European tour, told sarugby.net: “We have trained well, the guys are enthusiastic and, while the side is lacking in international experience as a unit, we are fortunate to have Joost van der Westhuizen back at scrum-half.

“The likes of Stefan Terblanche, Andre Snyman, Selborne Boome, Robbie Kempson, Cobus Visagie and Lawrence Sephaka are no strangers to international rugby either.”

Bulls loose-forward Pedrie Wannenburg is the only survivor from the 22-man squad beaten by Scotland at Murrayfield last year.

But Straeuli remained adamant that the result of last year’s match in Edinburgh would have no impact on the psyche of tomorrow’s Test Boks.

The Springbok coach added: “It is a new year, practically a new squad and different conditions.

“The scoreboard is 0-0. Saturday is not about revenge for last year’s result. Not one of the players here started in that Test match.

“Our focus is on the present and about laying a solid foundation for the season ahead.”

SCOTLAND: G Metcalfe (Glasgow); C Paterson (Edinburgh); A Craig (Orrell); A Henderson (Glasgow); K Logan (Wasps); G Townsend (Borders); B Redpath (Sale, capt); G Kerr (Leeds); G Bulloch (Glasgow); B Douglas (Borders); S Murray (Edinburgh); N Hines (Edinburgh); J White (Sale); S Taylor (Edinburgh); A Mower (Newcastle).

Substitutes: R Russell (Saracens); G McIlwham (Bordeaux-Begles); J Petrie (Glasgow); M Leslie (Edinburgh); M Blair (Edinburgh); G Ross (Leeds); J McLaren (Bordeaux-Begles)

SOUTH AFRICA: R Loubscher (Sharks); S Terblanche (Sharks), A Snyman (Sharks), T Halstead (Sharks), A Willemse (Lions), L Koen (Lions); J van der Westhuizen (Bulls, Capt); L Sephaka (Lions), D Coetzee (Bulls), R Bands (Bulls), B Botha (Bulls), V Matfield (Bulls), H Gerber (Western Province), W Van Heerden

(Lions), P Wannenburg (Bulls).

Replacements: R Kempson (Stormers), C Visagie (Western Province), S Boome (Western Province), J Smith (Free State Cheetahs), Craig Davidson (Sharks), G Bobo (Lions), J van der Westhuizen (Bulls).