Four changes from Springboks; Planet Rugby

South Africa have made four changes to their starting line-up that will face France in the third and final Test at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Hard-working prop Ruan Dreyer will make his debut for the Springboks, while the experienced scrum-half Francois Hougaard and outside centre Jesse Kriel both return to the starting team.

Dreyer, who will become Springbok number 886 when he takes to the field, replaces Frans Malherbe in the front row in one of two changes to the starting pack that defeated the French team last week in Durban.

The other change is at flank as Oupa Mohoje is unavailable after he took a blow to the head last week. His place is filled by 21-year-old Jean-Luc du Preez, who came on as the replacement flank at Kings Park. Jaco Kriel has been selected on the bench.

In the backline, Hougaard replaces Cronje, who was not considered after he had shown symptoms of a delayed concussion. This will be Hougaard’s 42nd Test cap for the Springboks, while Rudy Paige comes into the squad as replacement number nine.

The only other change to the starting team is at outside centre, with Kriel back after sitting out last week’s Test a result of a bump to the head in the first match two weeks ago in Pretoria.

"I said earlier in the week that we would keep changes in the starting team to a minimum because we have huge respect for this powerful French side," said Coetzee.

"The inclusion of Ruan in the starting team gives us an important opportunity to build capacity in the tighthead position. This is a very important position and it is great to have players such as Coenie Oosthuizen and Steven Kitshoff coming off the bench as a combination, while Ruan will start next to his Emirates Lions hooker in Malcolm Marx.

"The same applies for Jaco Kriel, who has fully recovered from his knee injury and he was very good in training the past three weeks. He deserves his chance in the match 23 and he is very eager to play. Jaco was in brilliant form before he got injured and I am sure he will make a huge impact off the bench.

"Jesse had an outstanding game in the first match in Pretoria and he really combined well with Jan Serfontein in the midfield before he was forced to leave the field. The retention of combinations is important because that will add to our continuity.

"The selection of the centre pairing was really a tough task and Lionel Mapoe is perhaps unlucky to lose out on the match 23. He played well in Durban but Jesse was also very good next to Jan Serfontein in Pretoria and my decision is based on developing combinations. Lionel will however get the opportunity to play for the SA ‘A’ side against the French Barbarians on Friday in Soweto."

Coetzee once more cautioned his side to expect a huge onslaught from the French: "Their camp is clear about it and the players realise there is no place for complacency.

"This is their last match of the season and they will be highly motivated to finish on a high, so they will yet again pose a serious threat. We will have to work extremely hard against a very physical French side who will again test us in all departments," said Coetzee.

South Africa: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Raymond Rhule, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 20 Jaco Kriel, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Dillyn Leyds

Date: Saturday, June 24
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-Off: 17:00 local (15:00 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)

 Good that he hasn't made many changes. Hougaard is an old hand so I hope he fits well with Jantjes. Dryer should be fine as the front row had its  problems early on last week. Kriel at outside center is ok IMO but I always saw him as a 15.
Let's see if the Boks can get 3 in a row. We will see if the French select a stronger team this weekend.

 Dreyer is very mobile so if he can prove he can do the job scrumming on the tighthead that will be great. Redlinghuys is a stronger scrummager but one wonders if he will play again.Wise words JW! 

  enough to beat a french team already on holidays,..... but that backline is crap,.... nor Coetzee, Rhule, nor Skosan are test material,.... their defensive skills are simply non-existant,..... Hougaard-Jantjes? both crack under pressure,.... and Kriel-Serfontein, though they are probably up to test level, form a quite average midfield

if this is the team going to the RC, they'll have problems ,.... even against the argies or aussies (both playing quite badly)

 Spot on AB that backline is going nowhere but backwards against a structured attack.I would love for them to prove me wrong at the end of the RC but can not see it for all the tea in China.

 I do not think Coetzee cracks up under attack.   I think that Skosan, Leyds and especially Rhule is not good enough from a defensive perspective.   They have pace - but that does not translate into being effective wings.    

 Blah blah blah.
So instead of Skosan who is a try scoring machine, we should pick a nice big plonker on each wing yeah with no step.
Everyone who reckons Skosan should not be there...please do make sure to tell us how your substitute is more deserving?
This is what we do in SA. We take a guy who has more than proved himself, which Skosan has done consistently for two years now, and then try to find reason why we should exclude them. Then in the same breath we bemoan the coach for not picking form players. 
Skosan scores tries. That's what a wing is supposed to do. He us not here to be inpenetrable wall. He is good/excellent under the high ball, an excellent chaser, makes good decisions almost throughout an entire season and never leaves anything out there on the field...but yeah let's all doubt the guy. He's given us reason upon reason to doubt him obviously.
You will never have a team that constantly wins by big margins(20-40) points. What you can have is a team that consistently scores a lot of points yet has lapses in defensive. Exactly like the Lions do. They set the record for the most tries in an SR season last year...pretty good considering they played all the Kiwi teams huh? And while the rest if the SA teams struggled to put a phase together. They did however have a good amount of tries against them. It's par for the course when you're playing that type of game. And it worked for them in the toughest club competition in the world, and continues to work...against teams that have beaten the BLions. If Skosan is good enough there then he is good enough. Done!
So leave Skosan where he is or a) adopt  Mauri or b) go back to playing Jake ball. But FFS stop trying to have the best of both worlds because unless some genetic freak comes along, you're not gonna get it.  

 I agree with Plum on this.  Skosan has real gas and footwork, also he will chase box kicks and kicks into space all day. This is his bread and butter, contesting and putting pressure on recievers similar to Basson but with better finishing and hands.
If the defence is wiley enough and there is good communication he'll be fine. Hell, I saw Christian Wade go all game for just one tackle. For a winger thats targeted on defence communication with the centers and FB is key.
Skosan has been really unlucky with the bounce of the ball not to be two from two on this tour. 
I'd sooner drop Rhule for Mapimpi and bring in Combrink at 15. Coetzee hasn't done anything bad, just personal preference.

 I have been very impressed with Skosan. He has raw pace, and is a very deceptive runner.  He is still pretty new, so he could still get better. 

Not sure when Basque says: .... 'enough to beat a french team already on holidays,..... but that backline is crap,.... nor Coetzee, Rhule, nor Skosan are test material,.... their defensive skills are simply non-existant' ... ....what position he has in mind for Coetzee, given he doesn't mention Jantjies I'm guessing it's flyhalf.

Plum, absolutely spot-on. 
Basque, your'e a DOOOOOS!!!  

 
Well Plum ... can't fault your passion.

Skosan is everything you say he is. He's only had two tests and should be given a decent shot to settle. France was the perfect team to blood him in and so far I have no complaints. He may be a little on the small side in comparison to North and Savea but he makes up for it with other attributes.

His test will come against the All Blacks and I'm confident he'll do us proud. 

I must admit I like Nkosi but as you said, is he any better? I think we should rather focus our attention to where the real issues are. 1, 3, 6, 12, 13, 14, 15 and the replacement bench.

Yes I also mentioned 15. Not really convinced as of yet.

The muslim is anti South African ... always has been .. so let's ignore this fools comments. He spends most of each day with his nose in the ground and his bum in the air ... who in his right mind would agreed with a fool that does that?

I have a few juicy words to describe him myself ... but "doos" will do very nicely for now.

 

 Nkosi looks the part but I'd like to see him complete another season of Super Rugby before he's selected.

Nkosi and Tambwe are both fantastic prospects.

 I'm more impressed by Nkosi than by Tambwe for now. 
Indeed, Nkosi does look like the real deal. In the present Sharks set-up I'm sure he's learning from the best and will only grow. 
Skosan's early change of direction followed by a late step is what I really appreciate about him. We don't have many wings in SA who explode like he does. I think he's pure class.
Ja Basque .I..  O.* ..I.

 plum
I am not sure about Tambwe - but am certain that Nkosi is a class act and going to make a name for himself if he continues in preset vein.   However, he is still very young and we will see more of him next year.    
 

 Nkosi was noticed in his first match. He immediately made an impression. Very good prospect.