Sport

Springboks look to their fringe players

South Africa will rely on their fringe players against Tonga in Lens as they seek to maintain their 100 per cent record this …

Sat Sept 22 2007 - 01:00

South Africa will rely on their fringe players against Tonga in Lens as they seek to maintain their 100 per cent record this afternoon.

The Springboks, who have thrashed Samoa and holders England in their opening two matches, have established themselves as genuine rivals to favourites New Zealand for the title.

Having put out strong line-ups so far in the tournament, coach Jake White will give his peripheral players a chance to impress at the Stade Felix-Bollaert and at the same time rest some of his star names.

Eleven changes have been made to the side that overwhelmed England 36-0 last Friday, with only lock Bakkies Botha, flankers Wickus van Heerden and Danie Rossouw, and winger JP Pietersen retained.

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Bobby Skinstad has been appointed as the Springboks captain for the match and he is aware of the task facing his side when they take on the Tongans, who are also unbeaten after wins over the US and Samoa.

"They are very physical, very good on the ball, protective of their ball and big, hard tacklers," said the 31-year-old Sharks back-rower. "They have got guys at inside centre who are the size of loose forwards and their wings are even bigger."

Tonga shocked fellow Pacific islanders Samoa 19-15 in a blood-and-thunder encounter in Montpellier last weekend. They had blindside flanker Hale T-Pole red-carded for a dangerous tackle in that game, and he will serve a one-match ban. He is replaced by Viliami Vaki, while there are three other changes, with Sione Tu'ipulotu, Emosi Kauhenga and Aleki Lutui coming in.

Tonga are expected to lose to the Springboks, setting up a probable qualification decider against England next week.

SOUTH AFRICA: 15 R Pienaar, 14 A Willemse, 13 W Olivier, 12 W Julies, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 A Pretorius, 9 R Januarie, 8 B Skinstad (capt), 7 D Rossouw, 6 W van Heerden, 5 A van den Berg, 4 B Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 G Botha, 1 G Steenkamp.

TONGA: 15 V Lilo, 14 T Tu'ifua, 13 S Hufanga, 12 E Taione, 11 J Vaka, 10 P Hola, 9 S Tu'ipulotu, 8 F Maka, 7 N Latu (capt), 6 V Vaki, 5 E Kauhenga, 4 P Hehea, 3 K Pulu, 2 A Lutui, 1 S Tonga'uiha.

Referee: W Barnes (England).