Springboks spring Tri-Nations team surprise

JOHANNESBURG — World champions South Africa sprang a surprise on Tuesday by naming lock Flip van der Merwe among seven changes for the weekend Tri-Nations championship clash against New Zealand at Soccer City.While injuries, suspensions and form meant the forward from domestic champions Blue Bulls was assured of a place in the match squad for Saturday, provincial team-mate Danie Rossouw was expected to wear the No 4 jersey.However, the Springboks opted to give the 25-year-old from the north-west university town of Potchefstroom his first start in the southern hemisphere championship as they try to atone for a disastrous three-loss away leg.The green and gold looked anything but reigning world and Tri-Nations champions as they fell twice to New Zealand and once to Australia while conceding an average of 31 points per game.Van der Merwe, wing JP Pietersen, centres Juan de Jongh and Jean de Villiers, scrum-half Francois Hougaard, flanker Juan Smith and prop Jannie du Plessis are newcomers to a team beaten 30-13 by Australia last month.Out go fullback Zane Kirchner, scrum-half Ruan Pienaar, flanker Ryan Kankowski (injured), centre Wynand Olivier, Rossouw, prop BJ Botha (dropped) and centre Jaque Fourie (suspended).Oliver and Rossouw have been included among the seven replacements for a Test from which the All Blacks need one point to clinch the title one year before hosting the quadrennial Rugby World Cup.There is also one positional change to the starting XV that was outplayed at the Brisbane bogey ground for the Springboks with slightly built right wing Gio Aplon switching to fullback and Pietersen taking his place.The major media debates before the lunchtime team announcement at a plush Johannesburg suburb hotel was who would play at fullback and scrum-half, but the Kirchner injury ended one contest.Coach Peter de Villiers had to choose between the more experienced Ricky Januarie or risk Francois Hougaard, usually a left wing, in the pivotal position.Usually conservative when it comes to team selection, De

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