|
|||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Russell will start for Springboks
![]() Russell's last start in a test was against Wales in 2004. CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- South Africa winger Brent Russell will make his first international start for two years in the one-off test against France at Newlands on Saturday. The 26-year-old Russell has earned 22 caps, mostly as a replacement, having last started a test against Wales in 2004. Coach Jake White on Wednesday named a team with three changes from the one that beat Scotland 29-15 in the second test last week. Russell comes in for the injured Breyton Paulse, loose forward Pedrie Wannenburg replaces the injured Schalk Burger and centre De Wet Barry will wear the number 12 jersey in place of Andre Snyman, who started at outside centre against Scotland. Joe van Niekerk moves from number eight to openside flanker to accommodate Wannenburg. "I have a suspicion that France might kick a lot and Brent can assist Percy Montgomery at the back," White said. "He has played fullback for most of his career and he also adds a lot of pace on the wing." Russell said: "It's definitely nice to get a start after two years. It's a big challenge and a tough game but I enjoy playing at Newlands." Barry, who has played 38 tests, has not been part of the set-up this season and gets a chance to re-establish a place in the team with injuries to regular centers Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie. "De Wet has been dropped before and knows that if he wants to stay in this team he will have to perform," White said. "He's had some time off and he is fresh, he's also a solid defender and besides a number six flank the inside centre makes the most tackles." The loss of Burger, who faces neck surgery on Saturday to repair damaged vertebrae, is a massive blow for the team who are still trying to come to terms with the fact that he won't play again this season. Traille taskDamien Traille was named at flyhalf on Wednesday in the France team for Saturday's one-off test. Imanol Harinordoquy was chosen at number eight by coach Bernard Laporte after making his return from a 16-month international exile in last weekend's 62-14 thrashing of Romania. The Six Nations champions will heavily rely on club connections, with Vincent Clerc, Cedric Heymans, Yannick Jauzion and Florian Fritz all playing for Toulouse. ![]() Traille is one of five Biarritz players in the team. Traille, Dimitri Yachvili, Thierry Dusautoir, Harinordoquy and Serge Betsen were members of the Biarritz team who won the Top 14 this month. Stade Francais front-rowers Pieter de Villiers, Dimitri Szarzewski and Sylvain Marconnet will lead the forward challenge. "It can be an asset, bringing extra communication between the players," Laporte told a news conference. De Villiers, who was born in the outskirts of Cape Town but never had the chance to play there, will be on the pitch despite the death of his brother last Sunday. "We have decided to make him play. At the beginning he did not want to but eventually said he felt like playing," said Laporte. "It will do him good to focus on a rugby game."
| | |||||||||||||||||||||
| © 2007 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map. |
|