Springboks recall JP Pietersen for Wales showdown

Coach Heyneke Meyer says that Victor Matfield was very close to selection, but his hamstring wasn’t 100 percent.

JP Pietersen, the only change in the Springboks side to face Wales, knows all about the pair having played with and against the duo.

Just like the German tennis star in 1985, locks Etzebeth and De Jager are punching well above their age – 23 and 22 – and Springboks coach Meyer has entrusted them to continue their blossoming partnership against Wales on Saturday.

The only player who was not considered because of injury is Victor Matfield, who felt a few discomfort in his hamstring at training on Tuesday.

“It is tough losing two captains in Jean (de Villiers) and Victor, and has been a big setback for us”, Meyer said, “but we have to back the youngsters going forward”. “I don’t care about individual stats, but if a few tackles help the team then I’ll be happy”, De Jager said.

The Springboks coach also made a decision to leave tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis in the reserves, meaning Meyer, criticized all year for hanging on to the old guard, will persist with the young players who pulled him out of the firestorm following the tournament-opening loss to Japan. Pieter-Steph has come in and he has played really well in the last three games.

The 63-capped wing, who has recovered from a knee injury which kept him out of the USA Test, will wear the No 14 jersey and Bryan Habana will revert to the leftwing for this encounter. In the past, we lacked experience on the bench, and Jannie is a great guy to have there.

In the backs, fly-half Handre Pollard and outside centre Jesse Kriel are both 21-year-olds with just 25 caps between them.

“We’ve seen first-hand how important it is to have experienced players on the field at the end of a match and to have this kind of experience available on the bench in a knock-out match is great”, said Meyer. Pietersen and Bryan Habana each have a hat trick of tries in the tournament, and share nine tries overall.

“To be equal try scorer with Jonah Lomu is a seriously awesome achievement”.

“Victor is a professional, he came to me and said he probably wouldn’t be able to give his best, he wanted to play but said it was better if he withdraws”.

The youngest, by a week on average, was the lineup last week which thrashed the Eagles at the Olympic Stadium.

Springboks: 15-Willie le Roux, 14-JP Pietersen, 13-Jesse Kriel, 12-Damian de Allende, 11-Bryan Habana, 10-Handrè Pollard, 9-Fourie du Preez (captain); 8-Duane Vermeulen, 7-Schalk Burger (vice-captain), 6-Francois Louw, 5-Lood de Jager, 4-Eben Etzebeth, 3-Frans Malherbe, 2-Bismarck du Plessis, 1-Tendai Mtawarira.