Heyneke Meyer open to change
NEW South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has surprisingly omitted flanker Heinrich Brussow from his 32-man squad to face England.
Meyer has based his judgment on Brussow’s indifferent Super-15 form rather than the extreme irritation he has persistently caused opponents in Test rugby.
It is a significant choice, as is Meyer’s decision not to summon scrum-half Fourie du Preez from Japan – an exclusion based on Du Preez’s own assessment. Instead, Ruan Pienaar is called from Ulster.
We were always looking to start with an experienced squad to face England
“Fourie said he wasn’t 100 per cent sure he’s at his best,” said Meyer, who has also called on nine uncapped players – including the gargantuan 20-year-old lock Eben Etzebeth – but retains 15 from last year’s World Cup squad and seven from the 2007 champions.
He said: “We were always looking to start with an experienced squad to face England. And what we have lost in experience, we have made up in passion and desire to play for the Springboks.”
