Hougaard starts new chapter at scrumhalf

The last time Francois Hougaard started a Test match the Springboks copped a 57-15 beating at the hands of the All Blacks in Durban last year.

That was then, and for Hougaard it won't be so much the turning of a page as starting a new chapter as he moves from right wing, where he last started, to scrumhalf when the Boks play France in the third Test at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Hougaard is likely to start after Ross Cronj, who wore the No9 jersey in the first two Tests, was withdrawn from this week's action because of concussion he suffered in Durban. "Ross showed delayed symptoms of concussion on Monday," team doctor Konrad von Hagen said.