By WYNNE GRAY at the World Cup
One change to the All Blacks, one forced change through injury for the Springboks.
The punch and counter-punch curtainraiser to tomorrow's quarter-final continued yesterday as Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli replaced injured flanker Joe van Niekerk with Danie Rossouw.
It was a predictable switch. The question will
be how much it alters the Springbok style, with huge utility forward Rossouw replacing the athletic van Niekerk, who had been in spectacular touch until he ruptured knee ligaments.
Rossouw can play lock or loose-forward and at 1.98m and 116kg, adds to the Springbok clout if they can dominate possession.
"The selection is our strongest possible and is close to the teams we fielded against England and Samoa," Straeuli said.
"Danie Rossouw was the natural replacement at No 7 for Joe van Niekerk and brings an exciting dimension to the position."
Straeuli does not see the path to victory entirely through his pack.
"You have got to vary your play. It is just not a forward confrontation and, at certain times, the ball is going to go wide.
"It is interesting the backline they [All Blacks] have picked," he said, alluding to the holes found there by Wales.
Finding Rossouw or Juan Smith running into midfield suddenly looms as a useful proposition for South Africa.
The Springboks have picked seven and the All Blacks 10 players from the teams who began the 19-11 win to New Zealand at Dunedin.
Probably the most significant change for either side is the Boks' use of youngster Derick Hougaard as first five-eighth. His ability to challenge defences while offering sound goalkicking earned him selection ahead of the stolid Louis Koen.
Springbok halfback Joost van der Westhuizen accepts that this is his third and last World Cup, and while the Boks have lost their last six tests against the All Blacks, he has not been beaten by them at a World Cup.
Van der Westhuizen typifies the unrelenting determination of the Boks, a quality which has allowed them to overcome technical and skill limitations in those cup battles.
Springbok lock Victor Matfield said his team had improved dramatically since the Tri-Nations.
"We are a side that can beat any team in the world."
The only All Black change was the return of Chris Jack, who replaces Brad Thorn.
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