These Boks have backbone
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has banked on settled combinations through the spine of his team to overcome the challenge that England will pose at Kings Park on Saturday.
Meyer has had a matter of days to assemble a starting XV that is capable of dealing with the different threats that England will present in his first match in charge as Springbok coach, and as a result he opted for combinations that will be able to hit the ground running.
Possibly the biggest surprise in his team selection on Wednesday was the relegation of incumbent fullback Pat Lambie to the bench, with Zane Kirchner getting the nod instead, and Meyer explained that the Bulls stalwart's well-established relationship with the other key players in the backline had been a major factor in his decision.
"If you look at the team we didn't have a lot of time to prepare. I think that both are quality fullbacks but if you look at the team I went for combinations and guys that know each other.
"If you look at the front row, the loose forwards and the 8, 9, 10 and the 15 they are all guys who have played with each other.
"I think that Patrick is a great player, especially as there is a good chance he will come off the bench and make a huge difference," the Bok coach told a media conference in Durban.
The Bok boss added that while settled combinations would be crucial to getting the match off to a solid start, he expects his replacements to make a huge impact when they are unleashed later in the game.
"I don't believe in reserves, I believe in impact players, so if you look at the players on the bench they are brilliant players in their own right," he said.
One area of Meyer's team which may fly in the face of his desire for established and settled partnerships is in the second row.
Both locks Eben Etzebeth and Juandré Kruger will make their Test debut on Saturday, and Meyer explained that although the temptation to keep Kruger together with his Bulls teammate Flip van der Merwe had been strong he simply could not ignore Etzebeth who he believes is on form and poised to become a great of the game.
"Flip and Juandre have played together and I think that is a great combination, but I went for form. It probably would have been easier to pair the two Bulls players together but I believe that Eben brings something different to the party.
"He contests very well in the line-out and I don't want to say he could be the next Bakkies Botha because I think he can surpass that," said Meyer.
The Bok coach added that despite their relative inexperience he has confidence that the two young locks will be able to fill the sizeable boots of the record-breaking combination of Botha and Victor Matfield.
"I think it is quite a new thing for South African rugby to have two uncapped locks in the team, so obviously that is a huge step-up for them and they need to prove that they can play at this level but I am very confident in them.
"I did think about experience there but I have got a lot of confidence in Eben and I think he can be a world-class lock. He is big physical and doesn't shy away from contact and I think he was the best No.4 lock in Super Rugby so it was just fair to go with him there," he said.
The third debutant in the side is Sharks flank Marcell Coetzee, and Meyer said that although experience is important in the cauldron of Test rugby the hunger that young players like him and Etzebeth will bring should not be underestimated.
"Marcell Coetzee has been playing great rugby the whole year, I think he brings something different to the party and he will definitely be a superstar in years to come.
"Both Marcell and Eben are still under 21 so we have got a few youngsters there who I think played very well in Super Rugby which is an unbelievably tough competition so I am very confident in all three [debutants]," he said.
Meyer is excited about the impact that his replacements will make, and said that every player on the bench has the ability to add their own brand of venom when called upon.
"If you look at Coenie [Oosthuizen] and Adriaan [Strauss] they are two of the best ball-players in the country if not the world for that matter.
"Both are great guys to start with but unbelievable guys to bring off the bench because they can turn a game on its head. Same with Flip - he is a through and through athlete and then Keegan is a guy who has proved himself and can cover openside and No.8 and he always makes a difference.
"If you look at the backs that I have chosen on the bench they are also guys that can change a game, so they will definitely be used.
"I believe that they are all game-breakers in their own right - every single player - and it is great to have a bench with big, fast, strong guys with a lot of skill," said the Bok coach.
Meyer added that he has been stunned by the levels of commitment and intensity in the squad this week and said that he cannot wait for his team to get stuck into the visitors.
"I have been coaching for about 20 years and this is probably the best week in terms of pure attitude of players that I have ever seen.
"Every single player has trained every single session and in my wildest dreams after the derbies I never thought that would be possible so the attitude has been brilliant.
"obviously it is a huge responsibility to represent your country and you really want to start well, and you also know that you are playing against a quality side so I am obviously a bit nervous, but more excited than nervous and I can't wait to go," he said.
By Michael de Vries, in Durban