SOUTH AFRICA HEAD coach Allister Coetzee has made three changes to the side which narrowly lost to the All Blacks last month for Saturday’s November Test against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off 17.30).
The Springboks bounced back from an embarrassing 57 – 0 pummelling to the world champions by pushing them to a tight 24 – 25 contest in Cape Town.
The big changes from that side come in the front row where Sharks props Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawararira – the most-capped Springbok prop of all time – and Coenie Oosthuizen come in along side Malcolm Marx.
The back row is unchanged, leaving the imposing figure of Pieter Steph du Toit on the blindside with Bath’s Francois Louw packing down at number eight ahead of Cheetah Uzair Cassiem while Siya Kolisi continues at openside.
The sole change in the ‘Bok back-line sees Damian de Allende re-join Jesse Kriel in the centre in a back-line dominated by Super Rugby finalist Lions – Ross Cronje partners Elton Jantjies at half-back with Courtnall Skosan and Andries Coetzee in the back three.
South Africa (v Ireland)
15. Andries Coetzee (Lions)
14. Dillyn Leyds (Stormers)
13. Jesse Kriel (Bulls)
12. Damian de Allende (Stormers)
11. Courtnall Skosan (Lions)
10. Elton Jantjies(Lions)
9. Ross Cronje (Lions)
1. Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)
2. Malcolm Marx (Lions)
3. Coenie Oosthuizen (Sharks)
4. Eben Etzebeth Capt. (Stormers)
5. Lood de Jager (Bulls)
6. Siya Kolisi (Stormers)
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers)
8. Francois Louw (Bath)
Replacements:
16. Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers)
17. Steven Kitshoff (Stormers)
18. Wilco Louw (Stormers)
19. Franco Mostert (Lions)
20. Uzair Cassiem (Cheetahs)
21. Rudy Paige (Bulls)
22. Handré Pollard (Bulls)
23. Francois Venter (Cheetahs)
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