Scotland Summer Tour, Game 4: South Africa v Scotland, 28 June

First topic message reminder :

South Africa v Scotland
28 June 2014, KO: 17:00 SAST (16:00 BST, 15:00 GMT)
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
 
Live on Sky Sports 1
 
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Assessor: Donal Courtney (Ireland)
 
A. Previous tour game threads:

https://www.606v2.com/t54151-scotland-summer-tour-game-1-usa-v-scotland-7-june
https://www.606v2.com/t54218-scotland-summer-tour-game-2-canada-v-scotland-14-june
https://www.606v2.com/t54324-scotland-summer-tour-game-3-argentina-v-scotland-21-june
 
B. Teams:
 
I. South Africa

15 Willie le Roux - 14 caps, 30 Test points
14 Cornal Hendricks - 2 caps, 10 Test points
13 JP Pietersen - 53 caps, 80 Test points
12 Jan Serfontein - 11 caps, 5 Test points
11 Lwazi Mvovo - 8 caps, 5 Test points
10 Handré Pollard - uncapped
9 Fourie du Preez (vice-captain) - 69 caps, 75 Test points
 
8 Duane Vermeulen - 18 caps, 10 Test points
7 Schalk Burger - 70 caps, 65 Test points
6 Marcell Coetzee - 15 caps, 5 Test points
5 Victor Matfield (captain) - 112 caps, 35 Test points
4 Lood de Jager - 2 caps, 0 Test points
3 Jannie du Plessis - 53 caps, 5 Test points
2 Bismarck du Plessis (vice-captain) - 59 caps, 45 Test points
1 Coenie Oosthuizen - 16 caps, 10 Test points
 
16 Adriaan Strauss - 33 caps, 25 Test points
17 Trevor Nyakane - 3 caps, 5 Test points
18 Marcel van der Merwe - uncapped
19 Stephan Lewies - uncapped
20 Teboho “Oupa” Mohoje - uncapped
21 Francois Hougaard - 27 caps, 20 Test points
22 Marnitz Boshoff - uncapped
23 Zane Kirchner - 28 caps, 25 Test points
 
II. Scotland

15 Stuart Hogg
14 Sean Maitland
13 Nick De Luca
12 Peter Horne
11 Tommy Seymour
10 Duncan Weir
9 Henry Pyrgos

1 Alasdair Dickinson
2 Ross Ford
3 Geoff Cross
4 Tim Swinson
5 Grant Gilchrist
6 Robert Harley
7 Chris Fusaro
8 Adam Ashe

16 Kevin Bryce
17 Moray Low
18 Euan Murray
19 Jonny Gray
20 Tyrone Holmes
21 Grayson Hart
22 Dougie Fife
23 Peter Murchie
 
C. Numbers - head to head:
 
24 Played 24
19 Won 5
5 Lost 19
597 Points 264
 
D. Last Dozen Results
 
17 November 2013
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
0 – 28 to South Africa
 
15 June 2013
Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
30 – 17 to South Africa
 
17 November 2012
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
10 – 21 to South Africa
 
20 November 2010
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
21 – 17 to Scotland
 
15 November 2008
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
10 – 14 to South Africa
 
25 August 2007
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
3 –27 to South Africa
 
17 June 2006
EPRU Stadium, Port Elizabeth
29 –15 to South Africa
 
10 June 2006
Kings Park Stadium, Durban
36 –16 to South Africa
 
27 November 2004
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
10 – 45 to South Africa
 
14 June 2003
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
28 –19 to South Africa
 
7 June 2003
Kings Park Stadium, Durban
29 –25 to South Africa
 
16 November 2002
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
21 –6 to Scotland

Nematode wrote:Some people on the Scotsman website commenting on how it is disappointing we aren't in NZ's first choice list for tests/will be used as warm up games. Also annoyed we aren't playing 3-test series games. I can't help but disagree.

What use would it be to get thumped three times by the likes of South Africa? We'd find out nothing, SA would learn nothing, and it would embarrass us. Surely we should explore more a test series against the likes of Argentina, Samoa or maybe Japan by recent results, so that we can play opposition that will be a stern test but we could do well/win?

When we start putting up more of a fight against these sides then they will take us more seriously. I don't blame these sides for thinking that they'll get more from playing Wales, Ireland, France or England at the moment.

On the Scotland selection, have we figured out whether NDL is available this weekend? If not then I wouldn't be surprised to see Hogg moved to 13 to accommodate Murchie at 15. I doubt that Cotter would risk Fife at 13, or have Murchie at 13 (I've never rated Murchie in any position other than 15).

I think Weir will start again as well. Cotter will hope his confidence will be up after nailing that last penalty, and probably overlook a generally average performance.

Pyrgos to start would be a positive change. Not punishing Hart so much as giving Pyrgos a deserved shot.

Given Gray (Castres) cannot play, I would imagine NDL (Biarritz) also wouldn't be able to play being France based. Also, I can't really see Biarritz wanting a good player to get injured in what will surely be a physical game.

The chat seemed to be during the announcement that NDL was there for the rest of the tour....

Biltong, I'm not trying to start a fire here, but honest question, there's been some chat on other boards that SA might try to do the quota thing this weekend. Any info on this in the press?

Have not heard anything in regards to that, however if that is the case there are a number of players that I wouldn't mind seeing play.

s'baru Sithole plays for the Sharks, lightning fast, big enough and has great feet, plays at centre.

Trevor Nyakane has already played for the Boks and was sent away with discipline issues, strong prop very good with ball in hand.

Lwazi Mvovo at wing, he is quick but a bit weak in defence, still a good player.

Kolisi, already capped.

A new guy was included in the wider squad, Oupa Mahoje, not convinced about him yet, but not a bad player.

If it is true, those are about the only ones I can think of that might get a shot.

Thanks, it's always good to get a knowledgeable South African view.

Why they bringing the quota back in?   

It is one of those political tools they use before every election, then once the election is done, it gets quiet, there were some serious threats made before the elections that any sport not complying will be banned from participation (like I want to see them enforce that on SANZAR) then last week we recieved reports from the sports committee that they are very happy (supposedly) with the transformation,

But then just to get a stab in they mentioned not enough players of colour in thr Bok team, the thing is we try not to pay too much attention to it.

If it has ti go to court then government will have to answer as to what they have done in regards to transformation thrmselves.

It is just a passing issue that comes and goes whenever politics require it.

I think we might see NDL moving into 12 and Hoggy at 13 for this game. Horne has unfortunately looked of the pace for both the games he has played. It really looks as if he has been brought back to international rugby to soon.

Murchie has to get some game time on the tour, his form towards the end of the year more than justifies it and a Hogg move to 13 would allow that as well. Fife to cover the bench, I am not sure he is fit enough to start at the moment either.

Hogg can't not start, he is one of our best players on the tour and also one of the freshest due to his little rest. Horne unfortunately is the one player who really has not been ticking the boxes. His time will hopefully come again, we know how good a player he can be.

Can't see Cotter doing anything that radical. Can see pyrgos starting but that's it for changes. De Luca is much better at 13 than 12, and I'd close my eyes every time Pietersen ran at Hogg if he was at 13


Murchie's time will come off the bench I think.

I do agree on Horne though - he's not had the gametime with Glasgow to prepare him for this.

NDL is better at 13 than 12, don't disagree with that but he is probably better at 12 than Horne is at the moment. He was getting murdered by the Argie 12 and back row in the last game so you do worry what the SA ones will do to him, it is generally a strength of their game.

Horne can be a good ball playing 12, but he is not someone who can just truck it up and make any ground. Either the game plan, or more likely his state of form and fitness is wrong and he just can't be the ball player that he is at the moment.

There are still a few interesting selection conundrums to be had even with such a limited squad!

I see where you're coming from but I suppose it comes down to whether it is better to have two players playing out of position is better than two players in position, just one of them not playing well.

A move to 13 will test Hogg's new found defensive abilities to the limit too - it's a completely different ball game defending the 13 channel and you have very little time to think in defence. Plus you've got the big men running at you all game!

Just how much are Scotland expecting to win this game by after the Welsh softened the Boks up for you….will it be another shock SH victory?

It's a different Bok team on Saturday and as the Boks ultimately won against Wales, I don't think that game will have any bearing on this one. Had the lost then perhaps we may face a backlash of sorts, but I think the Boks will treat this game as a separate game rather than part of any series.

Also worth remembering that Scotland play a very different game to Wales as well. Whereas Wales advocate the rush defence and bring intensity to the game, Scotland prefer the "shambles-dogleg" defence, opting to be punctured frequently off first phase ball, rather than slugging it out and refusing to give an inch. Very different styles.

Hogg scored a hatrick vs Munster at 12...

No he didn't    (13)

He was at 13...

RDW_Scotland wrote:He was at 13...

Sorry, yes he was - was sure he'd played at 12 but you're right

It was a sublime hatrick, but he's not played at 13 much since and he's not been nearly as effective when he has played there.

He played there in the first 1872 leg and didn't have much of an impact, other than throwing Tom Brown over an advertising barrier (you know, because of his attitude problem   )

RDW_Scotland wrote:It was a sublime hatrick, but he's not played at 13 much since and he's not been nearly as effective when he has played there.

He played there in the first 1872 leg and didn't have much of an impact, other than throwing Tom Brown over an advertising barrier (you know, because of his attitude problem   )

Come one that is harsh, Tom Brown doesn't have that bad an attitude problem   

 

It is expected that the Springbok team will differ significantly from the one that played against Wales, injuries to Beast Mtwarira and FLip v d MErwe with Willem ALberts not yet cleared of concussion, we will see a minimum of 5 changes

That's a shame - Euan Murray usually does ok against the Beast, who was poor against Wales.

Still, happy not to be facing Alberts and Louw on the flanks! Not that Coetzee is any slouch.....

Do we think Murray is going to start? I would imagine it will be Welsh with Murray on the bench. He can hardly be match fit as he has not played for quite a while and as he has had no club I doubt has done much meaningful training either. Murray aught to be warming the bench and doing 20 minutes at the end when Welsh tires. welsh has been playing well and will do ok.

There is a debate going on on the club forum about who is going to play backrow for this game. Fusaro and Harley are obviously going to start but who will play with them. Ashe is the only out and out No.8 left on the tour, though I suppose harley could do a shift there at a push. If Ashe does not start then that leaves the two small flanker combo of Holmes and Fusaro, potentially fatal against SA.

Ashe has been in NZ and has presumably been playing regularly, which Holmes has not. he did not play much at the end of the season and then has been on holiday. Is he really fit enough to start such a game.

The brave choice would probably be an Fusaro-Ashe-Harley combo, with Holmes to come of the bench at some point. Ashe is a good player and would undoubatly have got a bit of gametime this year had he not been injured. Quite a baptism of fire for him though. I am sure he will play whatever happens as there is no way Holmes will last the whole game even if he does go for the two midgit option!

It won't go down well with FES, but these are drastic times and drastic measures are required.

As such I would go with a Swinson-Fusaro-Harley combination with Harley at 8. Harley is not and never will be an 8, and Swinson is not and never will be a 6, but Harley would be better suited there than Ashe who has had very little pro experience and has been academy rugby all summer. This is the Bocks we're up against FFS - you don't get any more physical.

With regards to Swinson, I'd rather have him on the pitch somewhere than have him sitting on the bench and having to play Ashe at 8 or two midgets on the flanks.

It really isn't ideal, and it goes against everything we have hated about previous Scotland team selections, but I think it's the only sensible option really.

A backrow of Harley-Fusaro-Ashe would be like a fly banging against the window against the Bocks.

RDW_Scotland wrote:It won't go down well with FES, but these are drastic times and drastic measures are required.

As such I would go with a Swinson-Fusaro-Harley combination with Harley at 8. Harley is not and never will be an 8, and Swinson is not and never will be a 6, but Harley would be better suited there than Ashe who has had very little pro experience and has been academy rugby all summer. This is the Bocks we're up against FFS - you don't get any more physical.

With regards to Swinson, I'd rather have him on the pitch somewhere than have him sitting on the bench and having to play Ashe at 8 or two midgets on the flanks.

It really isn't ideal, and it goes against everything we have hated about previous Scotland team selections, but I think it's the only sensible option really.

A backrow of Harley-Fusaro-Ashe would be like a fly banging against the window against the Bocks.

I probably would not dissagree with that, it would really not make any sense to keep a player as good as Swinson on the bench and play either of Ashe or Holmes from the start, when neither of them are really going to be ready for it. It is going to be a physical game against SA as always, not matter what side they put out and I am sure that both of them will get on and pick up a first cap. Hopefully they will enjoy the experience and it will spur them on to try and compete for more!

It'll come as no surprise that I disagree.

I would play Harley at 6, Fusaro at 7 and Ashe at 8, with Swinson and Holmes on the bench. It won't be the first choice Boks back row we face, and in terms of height and weight stats I think we would be competitive in this match.

If we're going to monkey around, may as well put Gray at 8 and have Gilchrist and Swinson at lock. That's one player out of position rather than several.

Still, I think RDWs proposal is what we'll end up with. It's the most conservative option, and there isn't really an ideal scenario here, short of cancelling the match and allowing the players to have a proper break......

Put it this way. If you play Holmes (6) Harley must play at 8. So then you say Holmes &2x7s is better than Swinson at 6. I really can't see that.

BUT, if you can't go through them, go round them. 2x7s fetching and running the ball could be a gamble worth taking.

I'd be tempted to play Fusaro or Holmes at 8 because I'd expect them to have better handling and foot work than Harley. Just look to get the ball away from the base as quickly as possible.

What about Swinson at 6, didn't work out for Glasgow earlier in the season but his bulk and carrying would be beneficial against the SA.

1 - Dickinson
2 - Ford
3 - Welsh
4 - Gray
5 - Gilchrist
6 - Swinson
7 - Harley
8 - Fusaro

16 - MacArthur
17 - ?
18 - Murray
19 - ?
20 - Holmes

Ashe is surely too raw to throw into a full test away against SA.

There are no perfect options here. We just need to get the best players on the pitch in the most intuitive possible way and with the least positional fannying around.

We need Swinson for his aggression and Harley for his line out strength. It would be lovely, but it's just not realistic for Ashe to start. l literally don't think Fozzy's levers are long enough to do the technical stuff at 8 and so I think it really sensibly should be:

4 Gilchrist
5 Swinson
6 Harley
7 Fusaro
8 Gray

20 Holmes
21 Ashe

Seriously.

When Holmes joined Glasgow, he was regarded as being able to play across the back row. As such, I'd probably go for

6. Harley
7. Fozzy
8. Holmes

Ashe on the bench to cover, keeping the locks covering their proper positions.

George Carlin wrote:There are no perfect options here. We just need to get the best players on the pitch in the most intuitive possible way and with the least positional fannying around.

We need Swinson for his aggression and Harley for his line out strength. It would be lovely, but it's just not realistic for Ashe to start. l literally don't think Fozzy's levers are long enough to do the technical stuff at 8 and so I think it really sensibly should be:

4 Gilchrist
5 Swinson
6 Harley
7 Fusaro
8 Gray

20 Holmes
21 Ashe

Seriously.

Whilst my preference would be for Ashe to start with everyone in their specialist positions, GC's option above is the least bad option in my view. One player out of position, with Gray taking on the role at number 8. Shame it isn't Richie Gray really - he'd be quite good at all the number 8 show pony stuff that Denton or Beattie usually do. Jonny Gray has a bit more graft to him.

reallybored wrote:
6 - Swinson
7 - Harley
8 - Fusaro

I'm afraid this wins the "Andy Robinson Award" for the worst selection possibility in my book. Everyone in the wrong place performing roles that they're unfamiliar with. Renders the match a complete waste of time, and despite Ashe being greener than green, at least with him starting at 8 and everyone else in their preferred position we get something from the game.

South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Teboho Mohoje, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Zane Kirchner.

  

My plan for Saturday.

Can't believe Coenie is actually going to play at loose head. decent team, glad Pollard gets a shot.

RDW_Scotland wrote:South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Teboho Mohoje, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Zane Kirchner

  

Dammit Sideshow Zane Kirchner is on the bench    . Bit more of a rookie look to this team than i was expecting . Glad to see Hougaard back though , exciting player who just needs to find his form back . Faily even teams i think , an understrength Scottish side vs a young Bok one

        

On a side note, seems like Dan Parks has retired from rugby.

I know you saffers are trying to downplay your chances, but this literally is the last remaining 23 players Scotland can put out, and we've got over 30 players unavailable.

We've also recently scraped past USA, Canada and a young Argentina team, and that was with a stronger squad than the one we will have.

If SA don't win this at a gallop there's something seriously wrong!

Bullsbok wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Teboho Mohoje, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Zane Kirchner

  

Dammit Sideshow Zane Kirchner is on the bench    . Bit more of a rookie look to this team than i was expecting . Glad to see Hougaard back though , exciting player who just needs to find his form back . Faily even teams i think , an understrength Scottish side vs a young Bok one

  I might be proving myself very untwitterish but that's the first time I heard Zane get that so-appropriate nickname. Good one but shame he cut the locks to dampen it somewhat.

Nematode wrote:        

On a side note, seems like Dan Parks has retired from rugby.

Sad day, the game has lost its sharpest pair of sideburns.
Thanks for all you did for us Parks   

I don't know if this has any relevance, but Swinson and Murchie were both in a press interview for the match. You'd think at least one of them would start surely?

Nematode wrote:I don't know if this has any relevance, but Swinson and Murchie were both in a press interview for the match. You'd think at least one of them would start surely?

They're decoys.

Aye parks was a real pantomime figure, and unfairly took a lot of flack, but he won us some games we probably wouldn't have won otherwise, and that against Ireland will live long in the memory.

Indeed, also who could forget his 21 point haul V the Boks four years ago?


Here's to more of that on Saturday!

Ol' Dan - one of the Noughties select committee of notable players....sideburns and all.  His career has been in wind-down mode now for a few years.  Although you could argue that he was a double edged sword with his last team - Connacht.  Part of him helped them gain more belief in themselves.  His leadership qualities and his boot proved it could still help a team make inroads.  But at the same time, he was very much a more old-school 10 who perhaps didn't fit perfectly into Connacht's more mobile aspersions.

Thanks for the memories, Dan - even when your boot made a nuisance of itself!  Certainly one of the main guys I'll have a fond memories of from that decade.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

George Carlin wrote:There are no perfect options here. We just need to get the best players on the pitch in the most intuitive possible way and with the least positional fannying around.

We need Swinson for his aggression and Harley for his line out strength. It would be lovely, but it's just not realistic for Ashe to start. l literally don't think Fozzy's levers are long enough to do the technical stuff at 8 and so I think it really sensibly should be:

4 Gilchrist
5 Swinson
6 Harley
7 Fusaro
8 Gray

20 Holmes
21 Ashe

Seriously.

Whilst my preference would be for Ashe to start with everyone in their specialist positions, GC's option above is the least bad option in my view. One player out of position, with Gray taking on the role at number 8. Shame it isn't Richie Gray really - he'd be quite good at all the number 8 show pony stuff that Denton or Beattie usually do. Jonny Gray has a bit more graft to him.

I would probably go with that pack but would make one positional change. keep Gray in the 2nd row and have swinson at 8. Swinson is a bit better to suited to 8 than gray plus i think they will need grays grunt in the 2nd row come scrum time.

There might be a few changes to the South Africa team but the back row looks very very good.

RDW_Scotland wrote:South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Teboho Mohoje, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Zane Kirchner.

  

'Weaker' my arse. Biltong - you big lier.

I thought that both of the du Plessis might be out - these guys must be exhausted.

I think I know Handré's sister Sue.

George Carlin wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Teboho Mohoje, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Zane Kirchner.

  

'Weaker' my arse. Biltong - you big lier.

I thought that both of the du Plessis might be out - these guys must be exhausted.

I think I know Handré's sister Sue.

The Springbok team to face Scotland in Port Elizabeth is:
15 Willie le Roux - 14 caps, 30 Test points
14 Cornal Hendricks - 2 caps, 10 Test points
13 JP Pietersen - 53 caps, 80 Test points
12 Jan Serfontein - 11 caps, 5 Test points
11 Lwazi Mvovo - 8 caps, 5 Test points
10 Handré Pollard - uncapped
9 Fourie du Preez (vice-captain) - 69 caps, 75 Test points
8 Duane Vermeulen - 18 caps, 10 Test points
7 Schalk Burger - 70 caps, 65 Test points
6 Marcell Coetzee - 15 caps, 5 Test points
5 Victor Matfield (captain) - 112 caps, 35 Test points
4 Lood de Jager - 2 caps, 0 Test points
3 Jannie du Plessis - 53 caps, 5 Test points
2 Bismarck du Plessis (vice-captain) - 59 caps, 45 Test points
1 Coenie Oosthuizen - 16 caps, 10 Test points
Replacements:
16 Adriaan Strauss - 33 caps, 25 Test points
17 Trevor Nyakane - 3 caps, 5 Test points
18 Marcel van der Merwe - uncapped
19 Stephan Lewies - uncapped
20 Teboho “Oupa” Mohoje - uncapped
21 Francois Hougaard - 27 caps, 20 Test points
22 Marnitz Boshoff - uncapped
23 Zane Kirchner - 28 caps, 25 Test points

Any team with Zane in is weaker, but there are also a lot of inexperienced players in this team