Morne Steyn, the man who kicked the British & Irish Lions to a last second defeat in the second Test in Pretoria, will start for the Springboks against the All Blacks in Durban on Saturday.
The Bulls outside half kicked the 54 metre penalty that clinched the series for the world champions against Paul O’Connell’s Lions on his home pitch at Loftus Versfeld after coming on as a replacement for Ruan Pienaar.
This time he takes over from the injured Pienaar in the No 10 jersey to start his first Tri Nations match after kicking three penalties in last weekend’s 28-19 victory over the New Zealanders in Bloemfontein.
He is the only change in the starting line-up from that outstanding victory, although coach Peter de Villiers has made two other changes on the bench. Lock Andries Bekker returns in the place of loose-forward Ryan Kankowski while fit-again centre Adi Jacobs takes Steyn’s place amongst the replacements.
Bryan Habana and Jean de Villiers will both win their 50th caps for South Africa, while skipper John Smit will become the sole record-holder for the most experienced Test captain in the world game.
Smit joined Australia’s George Gregan and England’s Will Carling on 59 games as captain in Bloemfontein and will make his 60th appearance in charge of the Springboks in his 86th Test at the Absa Stadium.
Habana made his Springbok debut as a replacement against England on 20 November, 2004 at Twickenham and has bagged 33 tries. De Villiers, who made his debut on 9 November, 2002 against France in Marseille, will also equal De Wet Barry’s Springbok record of 39 games at centre, having played 11 times on the wing.
South Africa (v New Zealand, Durban, Saturday, 1 August)
15. Frans Steyn (31 caps)
14. JP Pietersen (27)
13. Jaque Fourie (46)
12. Jean de Villiers (49)
11. Bryan Habana (49)
10. Morné Steyn (4)
9. Fourie du Preez (47)
8. Pierre Spies (23)
7. Juan Smith (58)
6. Heinrich Brüssow (5)
5. Victor Matfield (84)
4. Bakkies Botha (58)
3. John Smit (85) – Captain
2. Bismarck du Plessis (25)
1. Tendai Mtawarira (14)
Replacements
16. Chiliboy Ralepelle (5)
17. Jannie du Plessis (8)
18. Andries Bekker (15)
19. Danie Rossouw (39)
20. Ricky Januarie (36)
21. Adi Jacobs (23)
22. Wynand Olivier (23)
