Matfield backing new-look Boks

SOUTH AFRICA captain Victor Matfield will take comfort in familiarity if not experience when he leads the world champions out to take on Ireland at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow (5.30pm).

The Springboks have made eight changes, most of them forced by injury, from the side which ended a disappointing Tri-Nations with a narrow home defeat to Australia on September 4, with head coach Peter de Villiers turning to youth to kick-start their Grand Slam tour with a much-needed victory and also ease the pressure that has been building on him all summer.

Flanker Deon Stegmann (24), will win his first cap in the Boks back row while the back three sees Gio Aplon pick up his 10th cap at full back having made his Test debut this summer and South Africa’s young player of the year Bjorn Basson, 23, picks up his third cap on the wing.