‘Mixed’ Bok team to take on Aussies

THE Springbok squad will head into Saturday’s Rugby Championship opener against Australia with huge confidence after their dominant 46-10 victory over the World XV in Cape Town last Saturday.

The green and gold warriors will hope to keep the winning momentum going when they look for victory at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

Coach Heyneke Meyer announced a ‘mixed side’ with experienced and inexperienced players for the big clash.

Damian de Allende who impressed in Cape Town might come up against Aussie veteran Matt Giteau (the Australian side must still be announced), which will make an interesting battle in the midfield.

Australia will announce a stronger team than last season, as most Super Rugby franchises excelled this season.

With the likes of Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Israel Folau and Kurtley Beale in the squad, the Aussie backline will certainly have to be tamed.

There are a lot of positives one can take out of the Bok performance against the World XV, but one question that remains looming in the air is how are we going to perform against in-form teams.

The Boks will have to win the shortened version of the Rugby Championship this year to take confidence into the World Cup later this year.

Blue Bulls youngster Jesse Kriel will make his Championship debut, with substitutes Cobus Reinach and Pat Lambie, still fresh from injury recovery, hoping to get good game time.

Bok team for Saturday

15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Schalk Burger, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira.

Substitutes: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Oupa Mohoje, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Lwazi Mvovo.