Kanko set to start (Bok Team Announced)

Ryan Kankowski will start in a Springbok team showing four changes to play Australia in Brisbane.

Francois Louw is axed from the 22, with Kankowski starting on the blindside in a loose trio filled with ball carriers, but the balance thereof will be questioned as they come up against renowned fetcher David Pocock. Another player who has started all the Boks’ Tests this year, Ricky Januarie, has finally been dropped and won’t feature in the squad.

Ruan Pienaar starts his first Test at scrumhalf since 2007, while Francois Hougaard will cover No 9 from the bench. Gio Aplon replaces the injured and suspended Jean de Villiers on the right wing in the only enforced change to the backs.

Along with the loose forward switch, CJ van der Linde has also been axed, with BJ Botha starting at tightead. Van der Linde limped off at half-time in Wellington, while Botha’s last start was against Wales in the opening international of the year.

Flip van der Merwe is introduced to the bench due to Andries Bekker’s serious back injury, while Dewald Potgieter is also elevated. Juan de Jongh will also get his first chance of the tour in the No 22 jersey.

Coach Peter de Villiers said the changes, nine in total, were made in light of the expected slick surface at Suncorp Stadium.


‘Statistics show that Suncorp has the fastest playing surface in the Vodacom Super 14 and we have to be prepared for a faster game,’ he said.


‘We have two tough games behind us, but if we stick to our structures and use our opportunities I believe this team is capable of getting a result.’


Springboks – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Ryan Kankowski, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 BJ Botha, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
Subs: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Dewald Potgieter, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Butch James, 22 Juan de Jongh.