Sport

Boks' hooker returns for decider against ABs

08:46 am on 3 October 2013

The Springboks' hooker Bismarck du Plessis, red carded during last month's Rugby Championship match against the All Blacks at Eden Park, has been recalled for the Championship decider on Sunday morning in Johannesburg.

The other change from the side that beat the Wallabies last weekend sees Juandre Kruger selected at lock in place of the suspended Flip van der Merwe.

There could be a third change with centre JJ Engelbrecht facing a fitness test on a thigh muscle injury and Jan Serfontein is on stand-by.

The Springboks go into the match five points behind the All Blacks, so they need to win by at least 8 points, score at least four tries, and prevent the All Blacks from scoring a four-try bonus point to claim the Championship.

15-Zane Kirchner, 14-Willie le Roux, 13-JJ Engelbrecht or Jan Serfontein, 12-Jean de Villiers (captain), 11-Bryan Habana, 10-Morne Steyn, 9-Fourie du Preez; 8-Duane Vermeulen, 7-Willem Alberts, 6-Francois Louw, 5-Juandre Kruger, 4-Eben Etzebeth, 3-Jannie du Plessis, 2-Bismarck du Plessis, 1-Tendai Mtawarira

Replacements: 16-Adriaan Strauss, 17-Gurthro Steenkamp, 18-Coenie Oosthuizen, 19-Franco van der Merwe, 20-Siya Kolisi, 21-Ruan Pienaar, 22-Pat Lambie, 23-Jan Serfontein or Juan de Jongh