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Struggling Springboks ring changes

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LONDON, England -- Springbok coach Jake White has opted for the physical presence of Butch James at flyhalf as he announced a team with 11 changes -- five positional -- for Saturday's Test against England at Twickenham.

The Springboks, with a dozen leading players left at home, were horribly off the pace in their 32-15 defeat in Ireland last week, not helped by missing 20 tackles, and widespread changes were expected.

James replaces Andre Pretorius at 10, Akona Ndungane returns on the wing with Wynand Olivier at center, allowing Bryan Habana to return to his preferred wing place.

Francois Steyn, one of the few players to emerge with credit after a try-scoring debut in Dublin, moves from wing to fullback.

In the pack Jacques Cronje comes in at number eight, with Pierre Spies moving to flanker. Johann Muller comes in at lock, BJ Botha into the front row.

Meanwhile, fullback Iain Balshaw has withdrawn from England's team with a calf injury he sustained in training on Tuesday.

Ben Cohen, who was not in the original match 22, will start on the wing at Twickenham with Josh Lewsey moving from wing to fullback.

Only five South African players will start in the same positions as last week, including hooker and captain John Smit.

"We've brought in a batch of players who've got an opportunity to play in the World Cup," White told a news conference at the team's training base in Bath.

"We are not saying for a moment they are second-rate players. We want to see whether we can increase our depth. Depth is vital for winning World Cups. We know what our best 22 is, it's now making sure we find the next eight.

"Francois Steyn played really well against Ireland. I thought we scrummed really well in the second half of that Irish Test and so we started with that front row and brought Deon Carstens, who can play loosehead on the bench."

White said the players had let themselves down against a good Ireland side but expected to improve on Saturday.

"They are looking forward to this weekend. "That we haven't won since 1997 at Twickenham is a huge bogey we've got to try to get rid of."

White said that for all England's problems, Saturday's game and the second Test next week would be tough.

"Even though they've lost seven in a row I don't think you can ever arrive at Twickenham and expect to be handed a Test match," he said.

"They lost to an intercept try last Saturday (against Argentina) and they had a try disallowed in the first five minutes against New Zealand so things aren't going for England. We've been there before, we know how quickly things can turn."

South Africa have lost their last six meetings with England, who they meet in the pool stage of the World Cup.

Team: 15-Francois Steyn; 14-Akona Ndungane, 13-Wynand Olivier, 12-Jean de Villiers, 11-Bryan Habana; 10-Butch James, 9-Ricky Januarie; 8-Jacques Cronje, 7-Danie Rossouw, 6-Pierre Spies, 5-Johann Muller, 4-Johan Ackermann, 3-BJ Botha, 2-John Smit (captain), 1-CJ van der Linde.

Replacements: 16-Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17-Deon Carstens, 18-Albert van den Berg, 19-Hilton Lobberts, 20-Ruan Pienaar, 21-Andre Pretorius, 22-Bevin Fortuin.

Ireland changes

Ireland Coach Eddie O'Sullivan made four changes on Wednesday in his team to face Australia on Sunday, dropping two stalwarts from the side who beat South Africa 32-15 last weekend in favor of younger blood.

Coach Eddie Sullivan said that he would shuffle his team around during the November tests and was true to his world.

Among the forwards, Bryan Young, with three caps to his name, will make his first start in place of 41-cap Marcus Horan, who is relegated to the bench.

Scrumhalf Isaac Boss will also make his first start, with Peter Stinger among the replacements.

Denis Hickie comes into the left wing in place of Andrew Trimble, who has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury, while Geordan Murphy is in for Girvan Dempsey at fullback.

Team: 15-Geordan Murphy; 14-Shane Horgan, 13-Brian O'Driscoll (captain), 12-Gordon D'Arcy, 11-Denis Hickie; 10-Ronan O'Gara (Munster), 9-Isaac Boss; 8-Denis Leamy, 7-David Wallace, 6-Neil Best, 5-Paul O'Connell, 4-Donncha O'Callaghan, 3-John Hayes, 2-Rory Best, 1-Bryan Young.

Replacements: 16-Frakie Sheahan, 17-Marcus Horan, 18-Malcolm O'Kelly, 19-Simon Easterby, 20-Peter Stringer, 21-Paddy Wallace, 22-Girvan Dempsey.

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