First start for Floors as Boks re-jig back-row

SOUTH AFRICA coach Jake White has handed Currie Cup player of the year Kabamba Floors his debut in a re-jigged Springboks back-row to face England this weekend.

Cheetahs star Floors will start at number six, with Juan Smith also coming in after Pierre Spies and Jacques Cronje sustained injuries in the Springboks’ nail-biting 23-21 defeat at Twickenham on Saturday.

Andre Pretorius is recalled at fly-half after poor performances against Ireland and as a replacement for the crocked Butch James last week.

The likes of Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Percy Montgomery and Os du Randt are all missing from the tourists’ squad — with Pierre Spies, Jacques Cronje and Buth James joining them back home after sustaining injuries on Saturday.

The beleaguered Springboks go into the game on the back of six away defeats on the trot — and White has challenged fly-half Andre Pretorius to stop the rot.

“Andre played really well in the Tri-Nations but he didn’t have one of his best Test matches against Ireland in those difficult conditions.

“He has 23 Test caps as a Springbok and we have put a lot of faith in him over the past couple of years. Now we need to see him go up a level if he’s going to play in the World Cup.”