Four changes to South African team
Wednesday, 11 August 2004 12:14South Africa coach Jake White has made four changes to his starting line-up for the crucial Tri-nations game against New Zealand on Saturday.
Concerns about the Springbok line-out and the team's ability to contest possession on the ground led White to field a reshuffled loose trio and recall lock Victor Matfield.
South Africa must win at Ellis Park on Saturday to remain in contention for the Tri-Nations title.
Joe van Niekerk, who missed the Super 12 and the tests against Ireland and Wales with a knee injury, comes in for Jacques Cronje at eighth man.
However, White does not expect Van Niekerk to last the full 80 minutes in his first start for the Springboks since last year's World Cup.
AJ Venter, after starting the last two tests, moves to the bench and is replaced at flank by Gerrie Britz, who started the previous test against Australia in Perth at lock.
"It all starts with first-phase possession and we need to get a bit more lineout ball," White said. "So I've gone for a combination that will make sure we can contest lineout ball more effectively, especially at the back.
"Joe van Niekerk can also run with the ball and I believe he will also add a new dimension to our ability to contest turnover ball on the ground.
"So with Schalk Burger we have two fetchers, both of whom are tall and athletic and can run with the ball," White said.
Scrumhalf Bolla Conradie returns to the starting lineup for the first time since the test against the Pacific Islanders on July 17, replacing Fourie du Preez.
White expects to bring Du Preez on during the test when Cronje replaces Van Niekerk to re-instate the Blue Bulls provincial combination at the base of the scrum.
Matfield was sent home before the test against the Pacific Islanders with a knee injury, although he subsequently played for the Blue Bulls the following weekend.
The experienced lock returns to the Springbok starting lineup after missing the two away tri-nations losses to New Zealand and Australia, with White saying he was happy with Matfield's state of physical and mental readiness.
Filed by Aidan O'Doherty
