Fourie can fill Jacobs’ boots, insists de Villiers

SOUTH AFRICA coach Peter de Villiers has backed Jaque Fourie to fill the void created by the loss of centre Adi Jacobs for the Springboks’ Tri-Nations opener against New Zealand on Saturday.

De Villiers yesterday announced his starting side or the clash in Bloemfontein with the Sharks midfielder the most notable absentee due to a groin injury, alongside flanker Schalk Burger, currently serving a 12-week ban for ‘eye gouging’ during the second Test against the Lions last month.

There are six changes to the team that was beaten 28-9 by the Lions in the final Test on July 5 with Odwa Ndungane, Jongi Nokwe, Johann Muller, Wynand Olivier, Morne Steyn and Ryan Kankowski no longer in the starting line-up.