Skinstad to start against the Kiwis

BOB Skinstad and Danie Rossouw will start tomorrow’s second Vodacom Tri-Nations test against the All Blacks after Juan Smith and Pierre Spies were forced out of the team with injuries.

The Bok management announced these changes yesterday, but by the time they did, it had already been an open secret for almost 24 hours that Skinstad was in fact going to pack down at No 8, and not Spies. Just what the Boks are playing at is difficult to fathom, but don’t be too surprised if there are not further changes to the team before it runs onto the field at Absa Stadium.Just like Skinstad was, Francois Steyn was in the shadow team when the side trained on Tuesday, and again on Wednesday.And journalists who attended the first part of the Bok training on Wednesday were able to confirm that Jaque Fourie was not part of the Bok group.He also sat out on Tuesday, suggesting that it is highly unlikely Jake White will be able to field him at centre against the New Zealanders.On Tuesday it was Wynand Olivier who slotted in at outside centre.White was forced to be honest about Skinstad and Rossouw when the story was broken in the Cape Argus that Skinstad was in fact starting.However, our initial information was that Spies was going to play No 7 flank, so who knows what to believe as the big match approaches.A player who trained on Wednesday was the supposedly injured Fourie du Preez.Could this be another rabbit drawn out of the hat on Saturday by White, perhaps explaining why the Bok management have been so confusing when asked to discuss injuries this week.According to an SMS sent to the media by the Bok media manager, Pedrie Wannenburg has been brought onto the bench to replace Rossouw, who moves from there to the starting team.Revised Springbok team: Percy Montgomery, Ashwin Willemse, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, JP Pietersen, Butch James, Ruan Pienaar, Bob Skinstad, Danie Rossouw, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield (captain), Bakkies Botha, BJ Botha, Gary Botha, Os du Randt.Reserves: Bismarck du Plessis, CJ van der Linde, Johann Muller, Pedrie Wannenburg, Michael Claassens, Wynand Olivier, Francois Steyn.superrugby.co.zaJust what the Boks are playing at is difficult to fathom, but don’t be too surprised if there are not further changes to the team before it runs onto the field at Absa Stadium.Just like Skinstad was, Francois Steyn was in the shadow team when the side trained on Tuesday, and again on Wednesday.And journalists who attended the first part of the Bok training on Wednesday were able to confirm that Jaque Fourie was not part of the Bok group.He also sat out on Tuesday, suggesting that it is highly unlikely Jake White will be able to field him at centre against the New Zealanders.On Tuesday it was Wynand Olivier who slotted in at outside centre.White was forced to be honest about Skinstad and Rossouw when the story was broken in the Cape Argus that Skinstad was in fact starting.However, our initial information was that Spies was going to play No 7 flank, so who knows what to believe as the big match approaches.A player who trained on Wednesday was the supposedly injured Fourie du Preez.Could this be another rabbit drawn out of the hat on Saturday by White, perhaps explaining why the Bok management have been so confusing when asked to discuss injuries this week.According to an SMS sent to the media by the Bok media manager, Pedrie Wannenburg has been brought onto the bench to replace Rossouw, who moves from there to the starting team.Revised Springbok team: Percy Montgomery, Ashwin Willemse, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, JP Pietersen, Butch James, Ruan Pienaar, Bob Skinstad, Danie Rossouw, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield (captain), Bakkies Botha, BJ Botha, Gary Botha, Os du Randt.Reserves: Bismarck du Plessis, CJ van der Linde, Johann Muller, Pedrie Wannenburg, Michael Claassens, Wynand Olivier, Francois Steyn.superrugby.co.za