Boks make 2 changes to face the Wallabies

Ruan Pienaar will start at fullback against the Wallabies on Saturday, with Schalk Burger on the bench.

Pienaar replaces Frans Steyn, who will join Racing Metro after the Tri-Nations. Peter de Villiers has so far refused to pick overseas-based players, and this selection indicates Steyn won’t be considered while he’s in France.

‘Ruan is a brilliant rugby player,’ said Springboks coach Peter de Villiers. ‘We want to keep his interest levels high and we can’t afford to lose Ruan.’

The mercurial Frans Steyn drops to the bench where flanker Schalk Burger has also been named for his comeback from suspension for gouging in the June series against the British and Irish Lions.

The highly-rated Burger comes back into the Springboks squad for Danie Rossouw, who is nursing a slight hamstring strain, but could not unseat Heinrich Brussow from the starting pack.

‘It’s certainly indicative of where our team is at the moment to see Schalk at No.19,’ said captain John Smit. ‘It shows how far the team has come. It’s amazing to have a bench like that.’

A fourth straight Tri-Nations victory will almost guarantee the world champions the 2009 series crown.

Steyn finds himself on the bench, along with Schalk Burger, who returns from his eight-week ban. Heinrich Brüssow, who has been outstanding for the Boks this season, keeps the No 6 jersey.

Fourie du Preez will play his 50th Test on Saturday, becoming the seventh player in the starting XV to have reached the landmark.

Springboks – 15 Ruan Pienaar, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 John Smit (c), 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Schalk Burger, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Adi Jacobs, 22 Frans Steyn.

(see this article first on www.keo.co.za)