Springboks ring the changes

South Africa coach Rudolf Straeuli has named four uncapped players in a new-look starting XV for the first Test against Scotland in Durban on Saturday.

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.

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 would have no impact on the psyche of Saturday’s Test Boks.

He 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.”

Springboks (to play Scotland): 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 Westhuyzen (Bulls).