Springboks recall JP Pietersen for quarter-final against Wales
South Africa have recalled JP Pietersen for their World Cup quarter-final against Wales at Twickenham after the wing recovered from the knee injury that ruled him out against the USA.
Pietersen, a veteran of 63 caps who plundered three tries in the 46-6 Pool B victory over Samoa, is restored on the right wing with Bryan Habana switching to the number 11 jersey.
It is the only change to the starting XV that thumped the USA 64-0 in the final group match, but there are four new faces on the bench where seasoned quartet Adriaan Strauss, Jannie du Plessis, Ruan Pienaar and Pat Lambie are recalled
“We’ve seen first hand how important it is to have experienced players on the field at the end of a match and to have this kind of experience available on the bench in a knock-out match is great,” Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer said.
Meyer had hoped to include Victor Matfield among the replacements, but the 38-year-old Test centurion has a hamstring complaint.
“We were planning to use Victor from the bench to add even more experience to our replacements, but we’re also not prepared to risk him if he’s not ready,” Meyer said.
“Luckily in Pieter-Steph du Toit we have another young player who has been performing very well and will slot in with ease.
“We are expecting an arm wrestle right until the end against Wales. We’re playing against a well balanced side that always likes to mix things up when it comes to physicality.
“They have a good set-piece and some strong ball carriers up front and in the back – it’s what you expect to face at this stage of the competition and we’re very excited about the challenge.”
Saturday’s opening World Cup quarter-final against Wales will be the 42nd time Pietersen and Habana have occupied the wings in South Africa’s starting XV.
Habana tops the England 2015 try-scoring chart with five, while Pietersen is joint second with four – a position he shares with five other players.
“JP and Bryan have been in superb form and are playing some of the best rugby of their lives,” Meyer said.
“It made sense to reunite Bryan and JP on the wing as it brings a lot of experience to our backline, which has been doing well despite the relative inexperience of Handre Pollard, Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel.”
Habana is the joint highest try-scorer in the World Cup history with 15. One more will elevate him above New Zealand great Jonah Lomu.
South Africa’s starting XV against Wales contains 686 caps with a further 337 caps sat on the bench.
South Africa: W le Roux; JP Pietersen, J Kriel, D de Allende, B Habana; H Pollard, F du Preez (capt); T Mtawarira, B du Plessis, F Malherbe, E Etzebeth, L de Jager, F Louw, S Burger , D Vermeulen.
Replacements: A Strauss, T Nyakane, J du Plessis, PS du Toit, W Alberts, R Pienaar, P Lambie, J Serfontein.
