Three enforced changes to Bok backline

Injury has forced three changes to the outside backs in an otherwise unchanged South African rugby team named for the Tri-Nations test against the All Blacks in Pretoria on Sunday (NZ time).

Fullback Brent Russell will start in place of Jaco van der Westhuyzen (knee), centre Andre Snyman for Marius Joubert (shoulder) while a pulled hamstring suffered in training this week by Thinus Delport has seen his spot on the left wing go to Ashwin Willemse.

Otherwise coach Rudolf Straeuli has rewarded the same starting players who beat Australia 26-22 in Cape Town last Sunday (NZ time), pleasing fans who believed the coach had been making too many changes between each test this year.

Nearly half the side is comprised of players from the Bulls Super 12 franchise. They include five forwards and the halves pairing of Joost van der Westhuizen and Louis Koen.

The reserves were to be named tomorrow morning.

Russell produced a sizzling display when he replaced van der Westhuyzen after just three minutes against Australia, impressing with his speed and counter-attacking.

Many South African observers believed Delport would have started at fullback and Russell on the wing before Delport's injury arose.

Willemse, 21, made his debut in the two tests against Scotland last month and was one of the few Springbok standouts in their sketchy wins then.

He was then injured in training so missed the Argentina test but will challenge the All Blacks with his pace if given chances.

The more experienced Snyman doesn't not have fond memories of playing the All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld. He broke his ankle there in 1999, hampering what was shaping as a very promising career.

The team: Brent Russell, Stefan Terblanche, Andre Snyman, Ashwin Willemse, De Wet Barry, Louis Koen, Joost van der Westhuizen, Juan Smith, Corne Krige (captain), Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Wickus van Heerden, Richard Bands, Danie Coetzee, Lawrence Sephaka.

Reserves: to be named tomorrow.

- NZPA