After last weekends historic victory against New Zealand, the Springboks go face to face with Australia on Saturday in Perth. Coach Peter de Villiers has decided to ring the changes again. The biggest change comes at full back where Percy Montgomery has been dropped and replaced by Conrad Jantjes. Percy does not even make the bench as De Villliers has opted to go with 5 forwards on the bench and only two backline players. Montogomery’s exclusion means that Butch James will take over the kicking duties with Frans Steyn as his deputy. Steyn will start the match in the centre position, replacing the injured Adi Jacobs. Having Steyn in the centre may be a good move in order to combat Australia’s Sterling Mortlock. Australia may have looked to target Jacobs but Steyn may prove to be a harder nut to crack in defence.

Another change sees Pierre Spies come in for Joe Van Niekerk at number 8. Schalk Brits is the enforced change at hooker for the suspended Bismarck du Plessis, with Adriaan Strauss likely to win his first cap off the bench.

After last weekends high, the Springboks should be full of confidence going into this game and I predict the Springboks to win by 5 points.

The Springbok team in full is:– 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Frans Steyn, 12 Jean De Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield (capt), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ Van der Linde, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp. Subs: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Beast Mtawarira, 18 Brian Mujati, 19 Andries Bekker, 20 Ryan Kankowski, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Peter Grant.

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