South Africa have overlooked local Newlands hero Schalk Burger in favour of unproven flanker Teboho ‘Oupa’ Mohoj for this weekend’s Rugby Championship clash with the Wallabies.
Mohoje, 24, has only played one Test off the bench but coach Heyneke Meyer has preferred the Cheetahs back-rower to 71-Test veteran Burger after losing champion openside Francois Louw to a neck injury.
Meyer had called Japan-based Burger, the 2004 IRB player of the year, into his squad last week after being forced to pick a different back-row for the third straight match.
He showed the enormity of the task confronting the wide-running Mohoje by comparing the influence of injured duo Louw and Willem Alberts to that of Richie McCaw and Kieran Read on the All Blacks.
“To lose Francois and Willem Alberts, it’s like (New Zealand) losing McCaw and Read but we have good depth in our back row.
“Teboho Mohoje has really improved in leaps and bounds.”
Fellow flanker Marcell Coetzee will take over Louw’s role as the chief ball pilferer in an intriguing openside clash with Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper.
Meyer has been under scrutiny for failing to select a higher number of black players in his side but denied the quota issue had forced his hand at No.7.
“There’s really no pressure,” he said. “I will pick the guys who I believe are the best.
“Oupa’s good in the lineout and a strong ball-carrier.”
Meyer also argued Newlands crowd favourite Burger, a former Stormers captain, would play an important role with his experience and composure crucial at the death.
The Springboks made one more change to the starting 15 which lost 14-10 to the All Blacks in Wellington, with Francois Hougaard replacing the injured Ruan Pienaar at halfback.
South Africa: Willie le Roux, Cornal Hendricks, Jan Serfontein, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Handre Pollard, Francois Hougaard; Duane Vermuelen, Teboho Mohoj, Marcell Coetzee, Victor Matfield, Eben Etzebeth, Jannie du Plessis, Andriaan Strauss, Tendai Mtawarira. Res: Bismarck du Plessis, Trevor Nyakane, Marcel van der Merwe, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger, Cobus Reinach, Pat Lambie, JP Pietersen.
