Aplon gets RWC start

The Springboks on Tuesday made five changes to the starting line-up for their Rugby World Cup Pool D match against Southern African neighbours Namibia at North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, on Thursday.

Wing Gio Aplon (pictured below) scrumhalf Francois Hougaard, utility forward Willem Alberts and tighthead prop CJ van der Linde were all given their first starts of the tournament while Bryan Habana was recalled from injury to resume in the No 11 jersey.

Four players were unavailable for selection due to injury, while Springbok coach Peter de Villiers opted to bring in fresh legs in the hope of sustaining the team’s momentum. Locks Victor Matfield and Johann Muller, centre Jean de Villiers and flyhalf Butch James were not considered for the match.

Scrumhalf Fourie du Preez and flanker Heinrich Brüssow both dropped to the bench while wings JP Pietersen and Odwa Ndungane and tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis were rested all together. In one other change on the bench, Chiliboy Ralepelle was included in a match 22 for the first time when he was drafted in for Bismarck du Plessis, who is also rested.

Thursday’s match kicks off at 20h00 (10h00 SA time).

South Africa v Namibia, 22 September 2011, North Harbour Stadium, Auckland

No	Player	Province	Caps
15	Pat Lambie	KwaZulu-Natal	8
14	Gio Aplon	Western Province	15
13	Jaque Fourie	Western Province	66
12	Frans Steyn	Racing Metro, France	45
11	Bryan Habana	Western Province	71
10	Morné Steyn	Blue Bulls	31
9	Francois Hougaard	Blue Bulls	12
8	Pierre Spies	Blue Bulls	44
7	Schalk Burger	Western Province	65
6	Willem Alberts	KwaZulu-Natal	6
5	Danie Rossouw	Blue Bulls	60
4	Bakkies Botha	Blue Bulls	75
3	CJ van der Linde	Golden Lions	72
2	John Smit (captain)	KwaZulu-Natal	108
1	Gurthrö Steenkamp	Blue Bulls	35
Replacements
16	Chiliboy Ralepelle	Blue Bulls	20
17	Tendai Mtawarira	KwaZulu-Natal	30
18	Francois Louw	Bath, England	7
19	Heinrich Brüssow	Free State	17
20	Fourie du Preez	Blue Bulls	59
21	Ruan Pienaar	Ulster, N Ireland	50
22	Juan de Jongh	Western Province	9