Boks change two for USA clash

06 October 2015 - 02:05 By Craig Ray

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has opted for continuity rather than experimentation for tomorrow's final World Cup Pool B match against the USA at Olympic Park. The coach made two injury-enforced changes to the starting line-up that beat Scotland 34-16 at the weekend, but has included the previously unused halfback duo of Rudy Paige and Morné Steyn on the bench, along with hooker Schalk Brits and prop Coenie Oosthuizen.Lwazi Mvovo replaces the injured JP Pietersen on the wing and Frans Malherbe Jannie du Plessis.With a four-day turnaround before a 10-day break to the quarterfinals, assuming the Boks beat USA, Meyer is trying to give his potential best team another run."We have to respect every opponent," Meyer said. "The USA are physical and have great runners in midfield. But we need continuity because we haven't had a lot of time to prepare. It's only Handré Pollard's third game together with Fourie du Preez, so it's great to have continuity. It's especially important on defence and the more the 9, 10, 12, 13 combination can play together the better."Meyer opted for Paige and Steyn on the bench in the eventuality they are needed later in the tournament, although he veered away from talk about a possible quarterfinal.Paige makes his debut and Steyn his first Boks appearance since playing in Perth 13 months ago.South Africa:15 Willie le Roux, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Fourie du Preez (capt), 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 François Louw, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Morné Steyn, 23 Jan Serfontein...

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