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Steyn takes the outside lane

Thursday 17th July 2008

Lucky thirteen: Francois Steyn will power up the Bok midfield

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has made four changes to the Springbok line-up to take on Australia in Saturday's Tri-Nations clash at the Subiaco Oval in Perth.

Pierre Spies, Francois Steyn and Conrad Jantjes all return to the Springbok starting XV to face the Wallabies, while Schalk Brits will wear the number two jersey in place of the suspended Bismarck du Plessis.

Spies got the nod ahead of Joe van Niekerk who played in the previous two Tri-Nations matches against the All Blacks, World Cup-winning centre Steyn replaces Adrian Jacobs and Jantjes reclaims the number fifteen jersey from Percy Montgomery.

Montgomery's axeing from the matchday 22 means that the 98-capped Test veteran will have to wait a wee bit longer for his centurion match that will see him become the first Springbok ever to play 100 games in the green and gold.

In his place returns the in-form Jantjes, who started against the All Blacks a week previously in Wellington, but was benched and later used as an impact player in Dunedin.

Montgomery's long kicking game played a major role in the Boks' win against the odds at Carisbrook and his omission could hint at the world champions playing a more attacking game against the Wallabies.

Steyn's inclusion at thirteen is an injury-enforced one that sees the drop goal master linking up with vice-captain Jean de Villiers in the midfield following Jacobs' failure to recover from a pulled hamstring suffered last weekend.

De Villiers and Steyn form a tantalising new midfield combination that could cause a few defensive headaches for the Wallabies.

Steyn's boot also adds back-up to that of Butch James who was struggling somewhat with his pinpoint kicking against the All Blacks in the previous two Tests.

As expected, De Villiers has rotated his loose forwards and brought in Spies at number eight, forcing Van Niekerk, who had an enterprising game on Saturday and set up the Boks' first try, out of the matchday 22.

Spies brings added mobility against Van Niekerk's physicality and will be raring to go after sitting out the first two matches on tour. Spies' head-to-head match-up with Wallabies powerhouse Wycliff Palu could be bone-shattering.

There are also a number of changes on the bench that has a five-forwards-two-backs split with Cheetahs hooker Adriaan Strauss, who only joined the squad on Tuesday, set to earn his first Test cap if he takes the field.

Tendai "The Beast" Mtawarira is also set to thrill the locals as the South Africans opt for two props on the bench with fellow Zimbabwean-born Brian Mujati retained from last week.

Sharks number eight Ryan Kankowski may get his first chance to play in a Tri-Nations tournament after getting the nod ahead of Luke Watson who also falls out of the matchday 22.

Kankowski was the form number eight in the Super 14 and is in desperate need of game time following a concussion suffered against Italy over a month ago.

A surprise on the bench is Stormers' fly-half Peter Grant, who gets his chance following the desperately unlucky Montgomery's omission. He'll sit next to the versatile Ruan Pienaar, who can cover most positions in the back-line.

The Springbok coach said his side would not be living off their victory in Dunedin over the All Blacks.

"You can't take history with you and that wins mean nothing this weekend," he said.

"They (Wallabies) are a team that you do have to respect.

"They wear you down and their execution is always brilliant, they are a great all-round team and we are in for a very tough game this weekend."

South Africa: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Francois Steyn, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Enrico Januarie, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Brian Mujati, 19 Andries Bekker, 20 Ryan Kankowski, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Peter Grant.

Date: Saturday, July 19
Venue: Subiaco Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 18:.05 (11:05 BST)
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand), Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Television match official: Garrat Newman (New Zealand)
Assessor: Steve Hilditch (New Zealand)