SOUTH AFRICA COACH Heyneke Meyer has made just two changes to his side to face USA on Wednesday (16.45), despite the short four-day turnaround.
The match will be USA’s first in 10 days, but their head coach Mike Tolkin has kept one eye on their final Pool fixture against Japan on Sunday night by ringing the changes for a midweek meeting with the ‘Boks.
Corkman John Quill is one of the beneficiaries of the squad rotation as he is one of the 12 changes made from the loss to Scotland.
The former Dolphin man came off the bench against Scotland, but gets his first Rugby World Cup start as an openside in a back row containing captain Samu Manoa and Danny Barrett.
Ireland’s other main export to American rugby Aj MacGinty has been left out of the matchday 23.
Having wrestled control of Pool B back after the shocking opening weekend defeat to Japan, South Africa are taking no chances of further embarrassment.
The introduction of Frans Malherbe at tighthead and Lwazi Mvovo on the wing are the only deviations from what Meyer now considers his strongest XV and the ‘Boks will surely be intent on finishing the pool on a high 10 days before they face either Australia or Wales at the quarter-final stage.
South Africa
15. Willie Le Roux
14. Bryan Habana
13. Jesse Kriel
12. Damian De Allende
11. Lwazi Mvovo
10. Handre Pollard
9. Fourie Du Preez (capt)
1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Bismarck Du Plessis
3. Frans Malherbe
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Lodewyk De Jager
6. Francois Louw
7. Schalk Burger
8. Duane Vermeulen
Replacements:
16. Schalk Brits
17. Trevor Nyakane
18. Coenie Oosthuizen
19. Pieter-Steph Du Toit
20. Willem Alberts
21. Rudy Paige
22. Morne Steyn
23. Jan Serfontein
USA
15 Blaine Scully
14 Brett Thompson
13 Folau Niua
12 Andrew Suniula
11 Zach Test
10 Shalom Suniula
9 Niku Kruger
1 Oli Kilifi
2 Phil Thiel
3 Chris Baumann
4 Louis Stanfill
5 Matthew Trouville
6 Danny Barrett
7 John Quill
8 Samu Manoa (capt)
Replacements
16 Joe Taufetee
17 Zach Fenoglio
18 Mate Moeakiola
19 Titi Lamositele
20 Cam Dolan
21 Al McFarland
22 Mike Petri
23 Chris Wyles
Excellent player for Ireland, should never have been offered or accepted the Ireland job.
@Ferg: I completely disconnect the two Stans now to be honest, took a while though. He was a hero of mine at Liverpool before Souness shifted him and was a star for Villa. He deserves recognition for being a legend on the field!
Great player, what a international and club career.
Legend of irish football.
The burnt head on him in USA 94.
Legend of Irish football,,,sums up Irish football!!
@Paul Owens: what do you mean by that? Staunton was a fabulous footballer.
@Paul Owens: obviously a die hard fan who knows his football.
If you can’t tell, I’m being sarcastic.
@Alan Roddy: How will I put this,,,he was dire,,,and I do know my football my standards are v v high,, sorry most Irish footballers are not great by international standards,,it’s v obvious,,going on for years and can’t see it changing for a long time,,,sorry if u don’t like it,,I know it’s hard,,ah well
@Paul Owens: don’t feed the troll people.
@Kevin O Sullivan: Fair enough kevin
@Paul Owens: What are you talking about? He played in a Liverpool side that was runners up and then league title winners in 89 and 90, he was 20 years old and absolutely excellent at left back, especially while Hansen was out in 89. He was only sold to Villa due to the European rule at the time and when Souness was butchering the side. At Villa he was excellent. A top, top player for club and country. Don’t rewrite history.
@Local Ore: scored a great goal against United in 93
@Mattress Dick: His hat trick in the cup for Liverpool was iconic! It wasn’t a major cup or a top team but it was amazing for a left back to do it! What a left peg he had, we talk about Andy Robertson now but Stan was that level and sometimes above. Even when he came back he was class all the way!
@Paul Owens: like the way you think
@Alan Roddy: Well Alan its time to book a trip to specksavers
@Paul Owens: proper end of a bell you are, go away and try follow a different sport. If you think stan was anything other that a top footballer you don’t have a clue…
One of the best left pegs that ever graced the pitch.gave it his all out on the pitch
Delaney’s first victim…..
“Would you let him drive the train to Cork Bill?” Eamon Dunphy to the late great Bill O’Herlihy on Stans inexperience for the job. I cannot find this clip anywhere but it has always stuck in my memory.
One of the greats of football.claass act
Great player.Hopeless and clueless manager
Jaysis, where did the S*n find a journalist to send dressed as Miss Piggy? Are we even sure it was a journalist?