South African coach Heyneke Meyer has recalled veteran halfback Fourie du Preez to the starting side for their Rugby Championship Test against Australia.
The Newlands match on Saturday will be du Preez’s first start in the Springbok No.9 jersey since the 2011 World Cup quarter-final loss to the Wallabies. He then left to play club rugby in Japan.
The presence of du Preez means Ruan Pienaar has been relegated to the bench although Meyer stressed that the selection, along with Adrian Strauss ahead of Bismarck du Plessis at hooker, was part of his rest and rotation policy.
He did, however, praise du Preez’s fast and accurate service, which he felt he had improved during his time in Japan.
“While Ruan is an outstanding scrumhalf and has built experience, I just believe that Fourie is in a league of his own in that position,” Meyer said.
“He has enormous influence and leadership ability, and is a good organiser.
“Fourie is a great player – not just for his kicking, which everyone knows about, but also for his ability to take gaps and to put players in spaces.”
He said du Preez took the pressure off skipper Jean de Villiers saying he was like an on-field “coach”.
Five-eighth Morne Steyn is also marking his 50-Test milestone against the Wallabies.
Fighting his way back from a form slump and axing last year, Steyn is the first player to wear the Springbok No.10 jersey 50 times, earning praise from his coach.
“I am extremely happy for Morne as his success epitomises what hard work can do,” Meyer said.
“I am sure Morne won’t mind me saying that he hasn’t always been the most gifted player, but he has the most unbelievable work ethic, and he never misses training sessions.
“When he started, he never even kicked for his school team so he has shown that sometimes hard work can beat talent.”
After trouncing Australia 38-12 in their first meeting in Brisbane, the Springboks are looking to keep alive their hopes of catching New Zealand to win the Rugby Championship and will be gunning for a bonus-point win.
They haven’t lost in Cape Town to Australia since 1982.
Springboks: Zane Kirchner, Willie le Roux, JJ Engelbrecht, Jean de Villiers (capt), Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts, Francois Louw, Flip van der Merwe, Eben Etzebeth, Jannie du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Tendai Mtawarira. Res: Bismarck du Plessis, Gurthro Steenkamp, Coenie Oosthuizen, Siya Kolisi, Ruan Pienaar, Pat Lambie, Jan Serfontein.
