Openside flanker Heinrich Brussow will make his first start for South Africa in Saturday’s first Test against the British and Irish Lions in Durban.
Brussow, 22, joined the squad on Sunday in place of Schalk Burger, who has failed to recover from a calf injury.
Although Brussow impressed for the Free State Cheetahs when they lost to 26-24 to the Lions, Springbok captain John Smit said he had been selected because of his performances throughout the season.
“He is very good at what he does,” Smit told a news conference yesterday. “He has not been picked on one performance against the Lions.”
“He has been picked on how much he has irritated every single team he has played against in the Super 14,” he said.
There were no major surprises in the South Africa team with flyhalf and full-back being the only contentious positions.
Ruan Pienaar, the incumbent fly-half, holds on to his position despite missing a large part of the Super 14 season with injury while utility back Frans Steyn was named at full-back.
“Frans is a player that can carry the ball up well, he can take the high ball and he has a good kicking game,” South Africa assistant coach Dick Muir said.
“It was a horses for courses decision. The way that we have seen the Lions play, we felt that Frans was the best candidate for that position,” he said.
Muir said Pienaar was feeling confident with his game.
“He is one of those players that, when he is confident, can really step it up and we have got all the confidence in the world in Ruan’s abilities,” he said.
Smit said the Durban Test would set the tone for the rest of the three-match series.
“There is no point thinking about the three Tests in advance. As cliched as it sounds, the first Test will decide what direction the series takes,” he said.
There is only one uncapped player in the South Africa 22 with Bulls fly-half Morne Steyn included on the bench.
• South Africa:
15-Frans Steyn, 14-JP Pietersen, 13-Adrian Jacobs, 12-Jean de Villiers, 11-Bryan Habana, 10-Ruan Pienaar, 9-Fourie du Preez, 8-Pierre Spies, 7-Juan Smith, 6-Heinrich Brussow, 5-Victor Matfield, 4-Bakkies Botha, 3-John Smit, 2-Bismarck du Plessis, 1-Tendai Mtawarira.
• Replacements:
16-Gurthro Steenkamp, 17-Deon Carstens, 18-Andries Bekker, 19-Danie Rossouw, 20-Ricky Januarie, 21-Jaque Fourie, 22-Morne Steyn.
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