Cape Town: South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has remained loyal to the players who beat New Zealand last month by naming an unchanged starting line-up for the opening match of their northern hemisphere tour against Ireland on Saturday.
The only change to the matchday squad is at replacement prop, where Coenie Oosthuizen comes in for the injured Marcel van der Merwe.
“It’s only the fifth time in what will be the 34th test since I was appointed as Springbok coach that we’ve been able to select an unchanged starting lineup,” Meyer said in a press release from Saru on Wednesday.
“In this day and age not making changes to teams is pretty much unheard of, but this is a great position we’re in. However, we need to make it count against a very tough Irish side on Saturday.
“Although we won our last test, the challenge this week is to make another step up. It’s imperative that we improve in all facets of our play.” Meyer said he had thought of giving uncapped Lions prop Julian Redelinghuys a spot on the bench in the place of Van der Merwe, but opted for the greater experience of Oosthuizen.
“Although Julian Redelinghuys was also considered, he’s still new in the team and not familiar with our patterns of play and especially the line-out calls, while Coenie knows the way we play well,” Meyer said.
“Coenie is also in great shape and we know what he can do, especially if he has to make an impact off the bench. It’s good to have him back.” The selection of 20-year-old rookie flyhalf Handre Pollard over the more precise boot of Morne Steyn suggests the Boks will look to run the ball more, as they did in defeating the All Blacks 27-25 in their last test on October 4.
After Ireland, South Africa have tour matches against England (November 15), Italy (November 22) and Wales (November 29)
The France team to play Fiji in an international Test match in Marseille on Saturday.
