Bok coach looking for fireworks from De Allende-De Jongh midfield against All Blacks

06 October 2016 - 18:42 By Chumani Bambani at Kings Park Stadium, Durban

Springbok coach Allister Coetzee is hoping reuniting Damian de Allende and Juan de Jongh in the midfield will prove to be the spark that ignites the Boks when they face the All Blacks here in Durban on Saturday. The Bok coach named a side with two forced changes on Thursday for the last match of this season's Rugby Championship.With Rudy Paige having suffered a concussion in the Boks' victory over Australia at Loftus last week‚ the coach was set to bring in a new scrumhalf for the King's Park clash.Spoilt for choice at having to pick between Francois Hougaard‚ who finished last week's match at scrumhalf‚ new call-up Piet van Zyl and livewire Faf de Klerk‚ Coetzee opted to start with the latter in the No 9 jersey. De Klerk had been given priority as the starting scrumhalf from the June incoming tests against Ireland right up until the Boks' defeat to the Kiwis in Christchurch last month.This was before Paige was awarded an opportunity to prove himself - which he did - until injury hit against the Wallabies last Saturday.“It was unfortunate that Rudy Paige got concussed‚” said Coetzee on Thursday.“I looked to give Faf another opportunity. In my mind‚ he's a great rugby player and will have learnt lessons from the past [participation in the green and gold]. He will be a better player this weekend.” The second change‚ and possibly one that will be placed under a microscope the most‚ is that of De Allende making his way back into the team.De Allende takes the place of Jesse Kriel‚ who failed to recover from a groin injury‚ in the side.His inclusion has forced a positional switch which will see him in the No12 jersey‚ with Juan de Jongh switching from inside to outside centre.The pair have played in the same roles under Coetzee where they flourished at the Stormers in Super Rugby.The coach will undoubtedly be hoping the duo can produce the magic that even saw De Allende being regarded as arguably the best inside centre in the world just last year‚ before a dip in form this season.“With Jesse's omission‚ in comes Damian de Allende at No 12‚” Coetzee explained.“That for me is looking at it tactically.“He [De Allende] has played with Juan de Jongh as a combination for the Stormers. In all honesty‚ Juan de Jongh has been the livewire when it comes to our defensive organisation.“His communication there is really giving us a helluva lot of confidence. With that combination for the first time together [at national team level]‚ I'm looking forward to a good contest.” Coetzee has stuck to a 6-2 split on the bench‚ in favour of the forwards with only two players covering the backline. While he has shown confidence in his forwards pack by keeping the same players in the side.Bok team: Pat Lambie‚ Francois Hougaard‚ Juan de Jongh‚ Damian de Allende‚ Bryan Habana‚ Morne Steyn‚ Faf de Klerk‚ Warren Whiteley‚ Oupa Mohoje‚ Francois Louw‚ Pieyer-Steph du Toit‚ Eben Etzebeth‚ Vincent Koch‚ Adriaan Strauss‚ Beast Mtawarira.Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi‚ Steven Kitshoff‚ Julian Redelinghuys‚ Lood de Jager‚ Willem Alberts‚ Jaco Kriel‚ Lionel Mapoe‚ Willie le Roux.TMG Digital/TMG Sport..

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