08 July 2010 10:00
Botha cleared to partner Matfield in Springbok pack
Injury-troubled Springboks Bakkies Botha and Danie Russouw have been cleared to play in Saturday's Tri-Nations opener against the All Blacks, allowing South African coach Peter de Villiers to name the strongest side at his disposal
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De Villiers had delayed naming his side from Tuesday to Thursday to give locks Botha (hamstring) and Danie Rossouw (hip) time to recover from injuries.
"They came through quite nice and everybody in the squad is available so we could make a choice and deliver the best team on the field," de Villiers said.
Rossouw was named in the reserves along with a fourth lock, Andries Bekker, in a largely predictable line-up.
Wynand Olivier and Jaque Fourie have been teamed in the centre with Jean de Villiers joining Bryan Habana on the wing. De Villiers said having an injury-free squad had made team selection more difficult.
"Last year, it was easier, we only had the starting 15 and the seven on the bench," he said.
"This year, in almost all the positions, you have to sit down and think what is best for this test."
Springbok captain John Smit believes it will be tough for his side to defend their Tri-Nations title -- starting with two Tests in New Zealand -- and says the fact they beat the All Blacks in all three Tests last year would have no bearing on the upcoming test.
"To keep doing the same things and expecting the same results and not thinking that other teams will catch you would be naive," he said.
"It really is for us to make sure that we can keep stepping up each weekend."
Smit also expected the All Blacks to be primed to avenge last year's whitewash.
"The All Blacks are going to be as competitive as they were last year, if not more so because of the fact that they didn't win it last year," he said.
"They are the team that has won the Tri-Nations the most out of all three of us. Not winning it really irritates them.
South Africa (15-1) Zane Kirchner, Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Ricky Januarie, Pierre Spies, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Jannie du Plessis, John Smit (captain), Gurthro Steenkamp.
Reserves: Chiliboy Ralepelle, BJ Botha, Andries Bekker, Danie Rossouw, Ruan Pienaar, Butch James, Gio Aplon.
Read more:
Tri-Nations fixtures
All Blacks squad for the test