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Steenkamp in as White makes three changes

South Africa v England: Loosehead prop Gurthro Steenkamp was one of three changes in the South Africa team announced yesterday…

Thu May 31 2007 - 01:00

South Africa v England:Loosehead prop Gurthro Steenkamp was one of three changes in the South Africa team announced yesterday for the second test against England at Pretoria on Saturday.

Steenkamp, who came off the bench during the Springboks' 58-10 victory in Bloemfontein last weekend, will earn his 10th cap since 2004 but first in two years following wrist and knee injuries.

CJ van der Linde, who also began the first test on the bench, starts at tighthead in place of BJ Botha, who has a shoulder injury.

Akona Ndungane returns on the wing; Ashwin Willemse, a try-scorer last weekend on his return to test rugby after three years out with injury, is on the bench.

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Coach Jake White said he would not write off England despite the record victory in Bloemfontein:"They are current world champions and a very proud team. Brian Ashton said they would be much better in Pretoria and I would believe him.

"After another week here they will be better prepared."

Apart from injured scrumhalf Fourie du Preez and prop Os du Randt, White has been able to name his strongest squad and said he was looking to replicate the World Cup schedule during South Africa's run of five tests in five weeks: "These five consecutive tests will be very similar to the World Cup and it's ironic that we will be playing England and Samoa, who are in our pool, and then Australia and New Zealand, who we could play in the quarter-final and final of the World Cup. So we're using this as a pretty exact run through."

Four England players have been ruled out: fullback Mike Brown, wing James Simpson-Daniel, centre Andy Farrell (all stomach virus) and flanker Andy Hazell (knee). Ashton has delayed naming his team until tomorrow and called up the Bath utility back Nick Abendanon (20).

SOUTH AFRICA (v England, Pretoria, Saturday): P Montgomery; A Ndungane, W Olivier, J de Villiers, B Habana; B James, E Januarie; G Steenkamp, J Smit (capt), CJ van der Linde; B Botha, V Matfield; S Burger, J Smith, D Rossouw. Replacements: D Carstens, G Botha, J Muller, P Spies, R Pienaar, A Willemse, F Steyn.