Vermeulen handed Boks debut

Updated September 05, 2012 17:01:22

South Africa number eight Duane Vermeulen will make his Test debut in Saturday's Rugby Championship clash with Australia in Perth.

Under-fire Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer has brought in three new players and made two positional changes to the side that was held to a 16-16 draw away to Argentina in their last outing.

In addition to the powerful Vermeulen, Meyer has named Ruan Pienaar at half-back, while Juandre Kruger replaces the dropped Andries Bekker at lock.

Pacy back Francois Hougaard goes out to the wing to allow Pienaar to start at half-back, while Willem Alberts moves to flanker to make room for Vermeulen at the back of the scrum.

With Morne Steyn retaining the fly half spot and no specialist openside flanker in the starting XV, there is no indication the Springboks will change their tactics of trying to outmuscle the opposition up front and kick for territory.

Meyer has given himself options on the bench, however, where 20-year-old livewire fly half Johan Goosen will be itching to get on to the pitch for his Test debut.

Ball-poaching flanker Francois Louw was also named among the reserves having been called up from English club Bath for the tour of Australia and New Zealand.

The Springboks will be looking to end a run of four defeats against the Wallabies, which includes the quarter-final loss at last year's World Cup in New Zealand.

Springboks squad:

Zane Kirchner, Bryan Habana, Jean de Villiers (captain), Francois Steyn, Francois Hougaard, Morne Steyn, Ruan Pienaar, Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Juandre Kruger, Eben Etzebeth, Jannie du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Tendai Mtawarira

Reserves: Tiaan Liebenberg, Pat Cilliers, Flip van der Merwe, Francois Louw, Johan Goosen, Patrick Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo

Reuters

Tags: rugby-union, sport, perth-6000, south-africa

First posted September 05, 2012 16:48:43

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Lipman handed McCaw assignment

Updated May 10, 2012 15:00:02

England international Michael Lipman will face All Blacks captain Richie McCaw in his first start of the season after being named at openside flanker for Melbourne Rebels' clash with the Crusaders at AAMI Park on Saturday night.

Lipman, who was schooled at St Joseph's College in the Sydney suburb of Hunters Hill, had been struggling with a back injury but he returns to the Rebels' starting XV in a reshuffled back row.

Blindside flanker Luke Jones in unavailable because of suspension, meaning Tim Davidson swaps sides of the scrum to wear the number six jersey, allowing Lipman to match up on McCaw, who is also making his starting return for the Crusaders.

Julian Huxley, who was a late withdrawal from the Rebels' line-up that lost 41-35 to the Bulls at home last Friday, returns at full-back in the only change to the backline.

Richard Kingi had played at the back in Huxley's absence, but he has been sidelined with a hamstring injury and his place in the 22-man squad is taken by reserve half-back Nic Sitrzaker.

Stirling Mortlock has also been included on the bench.

Rebels squad:

Julian Huxley, Mark Gerrard, Mitch Inman, Lachie Mitchell, Cooper Vuna, Kurtley Beale, Nick Phipps, Gareth Delve (captain), Michael Lipman, Tim Davidson, Hugh Pyle, Cadeyrn Neville, Rodney Blake, Ged Robinson, Nic Henderson

Reserves: Adam Freier, Jono Owen, Al Campbell, Ryan Hodson, Nic Stirzaker, James Hilgendorf, Stirling Mortlock

Tags: super-rugby, rugby-union, sport, melbourne-3000

First posted May 10, 2012 14:57:31

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