5 Jun 2014

Hendricks to make Springbok debut against World XV

6:40 am on 5 June 2014

South Africa's sevens player of 2013, Cornal Hendricks, will make his international rugby debut in the 15-man code next to ten players who started in the Springboks' final Test of 2013 when they face a star-studded World XV in Cape Town on Sunday.

Wing Hendricks is the only newcomer in the team as Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer opted for continuity in his team's first match of the year.

The old firm of Bakkies Botha and interim captain Victor Matfield are re-united in the second row., while JP Pietersen moves to centre.

Flanker Schalk Burger makes a return to the side for the first time in two and a half years while utility back Frans Steyn, hooker Schalk Brits, outside back Lwazi Mvovo and first-five Johan Goosen are also back after playing no Test rugby last year.

The five players who started in the 19-10 win over France in Paris last November but are not in the starting team this week, are the injured Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie and Eben Etzebeth, as well as Flip van der Merwe and Coenie Oosthuizen, who will both start on the bench.

The Springbok team to face the Samsung-sponsored World XV in Cape Town is:

Position Name Test Caps Test points

15 Willie le Roux 12 20

14 Cornal Hendricks 0 0

13 JP Pietersen 51 80

12 Frans Steyn 53 132

11 Bryan Habana 95 265

10 Morné Steyn 54 636

9 Ruan Pienaar 74 130

8 Duane Vermeulen 16 5

7 Willem Alberts 30 35

6 Francois Louw 28 25

5 Victor Matfield (captain) 110 35

4 Bakkies Botha 78 35

3 Jannie du Plessis 51 5

2 Bismarck du Plessis (vice-captain) 57 45

1 Tendai Mtawarira 53 10

Replacements:

16 Schalk Brits 5 0

17 Gurthrö Steenkamp 49 30

18 Coenie Oosthuizen 14 10

19 Flip van der Merwe 34 5

20 Schalk Burger 68 65

21 Fourie du Preez 67 75

22 Johan Goosen 4 8

23 Lwazi Mvovo 7 5