Springboks give fringe players a chance

Autumn Internationals: Schalk Burger, who last night won the International Rugby Players Association's player of the year and…

Autumn Internationals: Schalk Burger, who last night won the International Rugby Players Association's player of the year and newcomer of the year awards, has been dropped from South Africa's side to face Scotland on Saturday.

Coach Jake White has made seven changes to the side which lost 32-16 to the World Champions at Twickenham last weekend.

With a tough final end of season Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires also awaiting the Springboks, White is eager to give his fringe players a chance to lay claim to a regular starting berth.

The flanker, who is also nominated for the International Rugby Board's player of the year prize, is replaced by Solly Tyibilika. Danie Rossouw takes over from AJ Venter on the open side and Gurthro Steenkamp and CJ van der Linde start at prop.

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Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana play on the wings and De Wet Barry gives way to Wayne Julies in the centre.

The Springboks have arrived in Edinburgh and White is fully aware he must guide his side to a win to alleviate the criticism directed at him following beatings from Ireland and England.

However, White insists he will not underestimate Matt Williams' side in their quest for a morale-boosting victory, insisting he has left no stone unturned as he plots Scotland's downfall.

And he points to the Scots' memorable 21-6 win over the South Africans in 2002 as a warning of how dangerous they can be on their home ground.

He said: "We have to try and get our tour back on track, it's been disappointing the last two weekends, but one must be realistic.

"Scotland have improved as a team, they beat us last time we were here and they did really well against Australia, because they are not an easy team to play against.

"We know we lost to Scotland last time, but there are not too many players here that played in that series anyway, it's a new batch of players and young players coming through.

"The chances are they will have a full strength side and they have played together for a while now. They are playing at home and one of the things that I have seen is that home ground advantage is huge."

On Friday Colin Charvis will captain Wales for their final Autumn International against Japan following the return of Gareth Thomas to France.

Charvis was axed as skipper by coach Mike Ruddock following a public bust-up during the summer tour to Argentina and South Africa over non-appearances at press conferences.

But with Thomas among three Welsh players forced to return to their French employers, under an agreement with the Welsh Rugby Union, vice-captain Charvis steps in.

SOUTH AFRICA (team to play Scotland at Murrayfield, Saturday, (2.45): P Montgomery; J Fourie, M Joubert, W Julies, B Habana; J van der Westhuyzen, F du Preez; G Steenkamp, J Smit (capt), CJ can der Linde, B Botha, V Matfield, S Tyibilika, D Rossouw, J van Niekerk.

Replacements: D Coetzee, O du Randt, G Britz, J Cronje, M Claassens, G Bobo, G du Toit.

WALES: (team to play Japan, at the Millennium Stadium, Friday, (7.0): R Williams; H Luscombe, T Shanklin, G Henson, S Williams; C Sweeney, G Cooper; D Jones, M Davies, G Jenkins, B Cockbain, J Thomas, D Jones, M Owen, C Charvis.

Replacements: S Jones, A Jones, R Jones/A Popham, M Williams, D Peel, AN Other, K Morgan.