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South African Head Coach Heyneke Meyer has made eight changes to the Springboks starting lineup for Saturday’s pool match against Samoa in Birmingham. Having lost first up against Japan the match is a must win for the 1995 and 2007 World Cup winners.
Toulon back-rower Duane Vermeulen has been declared fit and will start at the back of the scrum which sees Schalk Burger moving to flanker. Veteran scrumhalf Fourie du Preez is another notable change with him joining Handre Pollard in a new look halves combination with Ruan Pienaar and Pat Lambie both dropped to the bench.
Meyer has retained places for a number of veterans with Burger and du preez joining the vastly experienced Jannie Du Plessis, Bryan Habana, Victor Matfield, JP Pietersen and captain Jean de Villiers in starting.
South Africa
1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 3 Jannie Du Plessis, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Victor Matfield, 6 Francois Louw, 7 Schalk Burger, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 9 Fourie De Preez, 10 Handre Pollard, 11 Bryan Habana, 12 Damian De Allende, 13 Jean De Villiers (Captain), 14 JP Pietersen, 15 Willie Le Roux
16 Schalk Brits, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Lodewyk De Jager, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jesse Kriel
