White rings the changes

JOHANNESBURG – Springbok coach Jake White has made 13 changes to his team to take on Samoa in a one-off Test at Ellis Park on Saturday.

The Springboks go into the clash having beaten England 2-0 on consecutive Saturdays, while Samoa are coming off back to back defeats against the Junior All Blacks and Australia A in the Pacific Nations Cup tournament. White has handed debuts to Coastal Sharks centre Waylon Murray and Western Stormers flank Luke Watson.With only 50 Test caps between the backs, it is the most inexperienced back division to wear the green and gold since the Boks faced Argentina in 1994.Flyhalf Derick Hougaard will play his first Test since the World Cup in 2003, while this will be only the second start for winger JP Pietersen, the leading try-scorer in this year’s Super 14 competition.”I think we’ve got a nice mix among the backs even if they are the most inexperienced bunch of players I’ve selected since being coach,” said White.”I’m very keen to see how they go against Samoa.”White has opted to rest his big guns ahead of the Tri-Nations with New Zealand and Australia which starts next weekend.”A lot of the guys have been busy every weekend since the second round of the Super 14 and they deserve a break,” said the coach.While White’s side is a largely inexperienced one, veterans of Springbok rugby John Smit and Johan Ackermann will bring some experience to the fold.Captain Smit will lead the Boks for a record 41st time in his 45th consecutive Test, while Ackermann, at 37 years and six days, will become the oldest player in South African history to play in a Test.Nampa-AFPWhite has handed debuts to Coastal Sharks centre Waylon Murray and Western Stormers flank Luke Watson.With only 50 Test caps between the backs, it is the most inexperienced back division to wear the green and gold since the Boks faced Argentina in 1994.Flyhalf Derick Hougaard will play his first Test since the World Cup in 2003, while this will be only the second start for winger JP Pietersen, the leading try-scorer in this year’s Super 14 competition.”I think we’ve got a nice mix among the backs even if they are the most inexperienced bunch of players I’ve selected since being coach,” said White.”I’m very keen to see how they go against Samoa.”White has opted to rest his big guns ahead of the Tri-Nations with New Zealand and Australia which starts next weekend.”A lot of the guys have been busy every weekend since the second round of the Super 14 and they deserve a break,” said the coach.While White’s side is a largely inexperienced one, veterans of Springbok rugby John Smit and Johan Ackermann will bring some experience to the fold.Captain Smit will lead the Boks for a record 41st time in his 45th consecutive Test, while Ackermann, at 37 years and six days, will become the oldest player in South African history to play in a Test.Nampa-AFP