Defending champions FNB UJ will face FNB UP-Tuks in the USSA 'A' section Final in Grahamstown on Friday. Both teams remained unbeaten in the tournament after claiming vital victories over FNB NWU-Pukke and FNB Maties respectively on Wednesday. UJ easily saw off the challenge of NWU-Pukke who went down 37-10, whilst UP-Tuks had to work a little harder for their victory over Maties who they edged 22-19. This sets up a mouth-watering trans-Jukskei final as UJ look to hold off the challenge of two-time Varsity Cup champions UP-Tuks in order to retain their crown. Maties and NWU-Pukke will square off in the third/fourth place play-off after their defeats on Wednesday, whilst FNB UCT and FNB UFS-Shimlas will battle it out for fifth and sixth place and FNB NMMU and FNB Wits will both be hoping to avoid finishing last. UFS-Shimlas cruised to a convincing 43-24 victory over Wits on Wednesday, whilst reigning Varsity Cup champions UCT were too strong for NMMU who went down 29-24. In the 'B' section the final will be between Varsity Shield champions FNB CUT who will play their first season of Varsity Cup next year, and FNB TUT who finished last in the Varsity Shield this year. CUT were far too strong for Varsity College who they beat 50-12, whilst TUT beat UWC 43-20 to progress to the final. As a result UWC and Varsity College will fight it out for third place on Friday, and the other match in the B section will see hosts Rhodes face FNB UKZN. The 'C' section final between CPUT and NWU-Vaal will have plenty riding on it with the winners qualifying for a play-off game against TUT for potential promotion to the Varsity Shield. CPUT saw off the challenge of NMMU G 16-9 on Wednesday, and NWU-Vaal continued their winning ways with a 48-17 win against WSU BBC. The 'D' section final will be between VUT and TUT B, after VUT defeated Venda 18-15 and TUT B secured a 22-15 win over WSU B on Wednesday. All the USSA Day Three results: Varsity College 12-50 CUT CPUT 16-9 NMMU G Limpopo 7-43 MUT NMMU 24-29 UCT NWU Vaal 48-17 WSU BBC VUT 18-15 Venda UFS-Shimlas 43-24 Wits UFH 14-27 Rhodes WSU M 15-22 TUT B UJ 37-10 NWU P Zululand 25-14 WSU IBIKA UKZN 31-5 NAM UP-Tuks 22-19 Maties TUT 43-20 UWC NWU Mafikeng 25-0 Invitational XV USSA Day Three fixtures - Friday, July 4 A section Final: UJ v UP-Tuks - Kings Field (11.20) 3rd/4th: NWU-Pukke v Maties - St Andrews (08.00) 5th/6th: UCT v UFS-Shimlas - St Andrews B (09.40) 7th/8th: NMMU v Wits - Prospect 2 (09.40) B section Final: CUT v TUT - Kings Field (08.00) 3rd/4th: Varsity College v UWC - St Andrews B (08.00) 5th/6th: Rhodes v UKZN - Prospect 1 (09.40) C section Final: CPUT v NWU Vaal - Kings Field (09.40) 3rd/4th: MUT v Zululand - St Andrews A (09.40) D section Final: VUT v TUT B - Prospect 1 (08.00) 3rd/4th: NWU Mafikeng v Venda - Prospect 2 (08.00)

There were two big FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International derbies on the opening day of the USSA tournament in Grahamstown and they both went down to the wire. The first big rivalry of the day in the 'A' section saw beaten 2014 Varsity Cup finalists FNB NWU-Pukke edge out FNB UFS-Shimlas 23-17. There is never any love lost between the sides and it was no different on Monday as NWU-Pukke finished on top in what was just the second match of the day. The other big clash in Grahamstown saw Cape rivals FNB UCT and FNB Maties lock horns, and it was the Stellenbosch outfit that managed to clinch a tight 33-32 victory over the reaigning Varsity Cup champions to get their campaign off to a positive start. Things were a little more one-sided in the Johannesburg derby between UJ and Wits, with UJ running away with a resounding 52-15 win. FNB UP-Tuks also made a great start to the competition, steamrolling FNB NMMU in a convincing 65-0 victory which left the Eastern Cape side scrambling from the outset. The 'B' section of the tournament consists largely of Varsity Shield sides, and 2014 champions FNB CUT underlined their class with a 62-19 win against Namibia. There was something of an upset when unheralded Varsity College managed to claim a 28-22 victory over FNB UKZN, whilst relegation-threatened FNB TUT were far too strong for FNB Fort Hare in a 64-0 win. The final match of the day saw hosts Rhodes go down 20-13 to FNB UWC who did just enough to hold them at bay. There is everything to play for in the 'C' section of the competition, with a shot at promotion to the Varsity Shield on the line and NWU Vaal were clearly highly motivated in the opening game as they recorded a 114-0 win against Limpopo. There were also big wins for CPUT who defeated Zululand 84-0, and NMMU G who beat WSU 71-15. USSA Day One results: NWU Vaal 114-0 Limpopo NWU-Pukke 23-17 UFS-Shimlas Varsity College 28-22 UKZN WSU Mthatha 37-13 NWU Mafikeng CPUT 84-0 Zululand UP-Tuks 65-0 NMMU WSU B 43-19 MUT VUT 17-10 Invitational XV CUT 62-19 Namibia UJ 52-15 Wits NMMU G 71-15 WSU Maties 33-32 UCT TUT 64-0 UFH TUT Shos 12-33 Venda UWC 20-13 Rhodes USSA Day Two fixtures: Varsity College v CUT - Kings Field (09.00) CPUT v NMMU G - St Andrews (09.00) Limpopo v MUT - Prospect 1 (09.00) NMMU v UCT - Prospect 2 (09.00) NWU Vaal v WSU BBC - Kings Field (10.40) VUT v Venda - St Andrews (10.40) UFS-Shimlas v Wits - Prospect 1 (10.40) UFH v Rhodes - Prospect 2 (10.40) WSU Mthatha v TUT B - Kings Field (12.20) NWU-Pukke v UJ - St Andrews (12.20) Zululand v WSU Ibika - Prospect 1 (12.20) UKZN v Namibia - Prospect 2 (12.20) UP-Tuks v Maties - Kings Field (14.00) TUT v UWC - St Andrews (14.00) NWU Mafikeng v Invitational XV (14.00)

There will be added significance in the 'C' section of the USSA tournament in Grahamstown next week, with the winner given a shot at playing in the Varsity Shield next year. The annual University Sports South Africa rugby tournament will be hosted by Rhodes University from June 30 to July 4, and there will be just as much attention on the third tier of the competition as any other. With FNB TUT having finished in last place in the Varsity Shield this season, the Pretoria-based side will have to defend their place in the competition in a promotion/relegation play-off at home on July 19. They will square off with the team that finishes top of the 'C' section of the USSA tournament in Grahamstown next week to determine which team goes through to compete in the Varsity Shield next year. The teams in Pool C ranked from are: 1 NWU Vaal 2 CPUT 3 NMMU G 4 WSU BCC 5 Mangusuthu University of Technology 6 WSU Ibika 7 University of Zululand 8 University of Limpopo Turfloop campus There will be some interesting derbies on Day One when FNB Varsity Cup champions UCT meet Cape rivals Maties, the Joburg Derby between UJ and Wits, Shimlas and the Pukke play each other and in Pool B the UKZN Impi will play Varsity College. The semifinals will be played on Wednesday, July 2, and the finals on Friday, July 4. USSA Day One fixtures: NWU Vaal v Limpopo - Kings Field (09.00) NWU Pukke v UFS-Shimlas - St.Andrews (09.00) Varsity College v UKZN - Prospect 1 (09.00) WSU Mthata v NWU Mafikeng - Prospect 2 (09.00) CPUT v Zululand - Kings Field (10.40) UP-Tuks v NMMU - St.Andrews (10.40) WSU B v MUT - Prospect 1 (10.40) VUT v Invitatinal XV - Prospect 2 (10.40) CUT v Namibia - Kings Field (12.20) UJ v Wits - St.Andrews (12.20) NMMU G v WSU Ibika - Prospect 1 (12.20) Maties v UCT - Kings Field (14.00) TUT v UFH - Prospect 1 (14.00) TUT Shos v Venda - Prospect 2 (14.00) UWC v Rhodes - Kings Field (16.30)

The FNB Madibaz will blood their new-look team at the five-day national student rugby championship in Grahamstown next week. The University Sport South Africa tournament will be the first major national test for coach David Maidza's squad following the departure of a number of senior players in the wake of the FNB Varsity Cup competition earlier this season. "We're in the process of building a team that we can use for the future," said Maidza, who joined the NMMU-based team at the beginning of the year. "This is my first year at the USSA tournament, so I'll be sounding out how strong the competition is and also looking to see how our new players cope at a higher level," he explained. The Port Elizabeth side will face off against the country's top seven rugby-playing institutions - including defending champions the University of Johannesburg - in the A-section of the tournament. "All of the teams will be in with a shout. Some of the universities don't send their strongest teams but I'm sure Tukkies, Maties and Pukke will be ones to watch," said Maidza. The Madibaz are yet to inscribe their name on the trophy after finishing sixth overall last year. They put in a strong showing at this year's Varsity Cup, going down by a single point to NWU-Pukke in the semifinals. The team was forced to regroup in the aftermath of the competition when a number of key players were taken up into various professional outfits. Maidza said his restructured side had had a stop-start local season so far but was confident that the squad would step up and be ready for their first Ussa fixture against the University of Pretoria. "Our Eastern Province Grand Challenge season hasn't gone as smoothly as I had anticipated but, with losing eleven players after Varsity Cup, it was always going to be a tough ask for us," he said. Of the nine matches played to date, the Madibaz have won six, drawn one and lost two. They are currently second in the standings behind log leaders Despatch. He commended new captain Jody Reyneke, wing Tythan Adams and centre Andile Jho, among others, for their fortitude in remaining with the team and continuing to play throughout the long season. "They have had to keep on playing since February. They have been the heartbeat of the team and true professionals." Maidza added that new faces such as scrumhalf Ivan Ludick and loose forwards Oyama Ngxakela and Matthew Tweddle had also acquitted themselves well in the club games. FNB Madibaz squad: Marzuq Maarman, Nicolas Roebeck, Mzuvukile Sofisa, Laurence Christie, Jody Reyneke, Tyrone Rankin, Johannes Huisamen, Robert Louw, Tapiwa Mabuto, Kuhle Sonkosi, Willem Snyman, Oyama Gxakela, Zaine Marx, Matthew Tweddle, Bunganga Magwentshu, Ivan Ludick, Marlin Ruiters, Gavin Hauptfleisch, Ruan Allerston, Steven Hansel, Andile Jho, Stefanus Booysen, Siphumelele Msutwana, Billy van Lill, Voughan Casling, Yamkela Ngam, Tythan Adams, Kayle Van Zyl

Rhodes University are hosting the annual University Sports South Africa (USSA) Rugby Week festival, which is starting on 30 June and ending on 4 July. This festival has attracted the top university rugby sides in the country such as Maties, NWU-Pukke, NMMU, UP-Tuks, UJ, UCT and more Varsity Cup and Shield teams. In total 32 tertiary education institutions have sent teams to compete. The teams have been divided into four pools, each consisting of eight teams. All teams will play against each other in their respective pools in a round-robin fashion. They have all been placed into their pools based on their results during the 2013 USSA Rugby Week. Pool A consists of the eight Varsity Cup sides while Pool B is made up of Varsity Shield sides and the hosts, Rhodes University. Pools A and B are using this festival as a pre-season event prior to their preparations for the Varsity Cup and Shield tournaments. The teams in Pools C and D have the chance to qualify for Pools B and C respectively. The winner of Pool C will face Varsity Shield wooden spoonists TUT in a promotion/relegation match in Pretoria on July 19, with the winner going on to play Varsity Shield rugby next season. The festival will be a fantastic spectacle for rugby fans in Grahamstown, as the top university sides will bring some serious talent with them and will be gunning for pre-season bragging rights. By Brandon Yates

There will be three more FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International Springboks on Saturday with Handré Pollard, Marcel van der Merwe and Teboho 'Oupa' Mohoje' set to makes their debut's for the national side against Scotland. Former FNB UP-Tuks star Pollard, who was recently named the IRB World Junior Player of the Year after leading the Junior Springboks to the runners-up spot at the Junior World Championships in New Zealand, will start at flyhalf whilst Mohoje has been named on the bench. Pollard has been earmarked for greatness since he guided the Junior Boks to the JWC title on home soil when he was still in school in 2012, and has gone on to represent the Bulls and Blue Bulls since featuring for UP-Tuks in their victorious Varsity Cup campaign last year. Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer said Pollard had always been part of his plans for the June Tests, but that his selection as SA Under-20 captain meant he could only join the squad this week. "Handré is a very talented player and has a big opportunity this week, but he'll have Fourie du Preez's experience next to him, while he's played a lot with Jan Serfontein before. It's great to have the current and a former World Junior Player of the Year in the same backline," he said. Former FNB UFS-Shimlas skipper Mohoje will become the first player to play Varsity Cup and Test rugby in the same year. The all-action blindside flank, who can also play lock, was captain of UFS-Shimlas in 2013 and continued to play for them as they narrowly missed out on a Varsity Cup play-off spot this year. Following the Varsity Cup, Mohoje was quickly drafted into the Cheetahs side and impressed with a few dynamic displays to be called up to the extended Springbok squad for the June internationals. "'Oupa' still played Varsity Cup and Vodacom Cup rugby earlier this season before he got an opportunity to play Super Rugby for the Cheetahs because of injuries. He took his chance and now he's on the cusp of making his Test debut," said Meyer. Tighthead prop van der Merwe also played for UFS-Shimlas back in 2010 and went on to play Currie Cup for the Cheetahs before being signed by the Bulls. He has enjoyed a break-out season with the Pretoria-based Super Rugby franchise this year and will also take his place on the bench this weekend as back-up for the experienced Jannie du Plessis. South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen. Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 Teboho Mohoje, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Zane Kirchner.

The FNB Ikey Tigers will be out to add another title to their collection when they travel to Grahamstown to do battle at the USSA tournament next week. The reigning FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International champions are on a mid-season break from the WP Super League where they lie in first place on the log, and are sure to be eager to take the field once again. However, coach Kevin Musikanth pointed out that while they have enjoyed a 'well-earned break from the field' the team are keen to start up again with the upcoming USSA tournament. He also explained that the players in Cape Town 'have been on their mid season gym program at the High Performance Centre' as well, and are excited to put their hard work into practice. Singling out the tournament itself Musikanth said: "The USSA is more a development tour for us in that future talent is given a chance to compete against other Varsity Cup teams." He said that the tournament will reveal 'whether the guys are ready to make the step up.' As a result, the tournament will see a lot of new faces making their appearance, mixed in with a host of regular Varsity Cup campaigners to ensure that the Tigers boast a competitive side. He explained that it will be a good opportunity to gel ahead of the next phase of the league season. "The other factor is that the tournament gives us an opportunity to be able to get in some game time as two months off is a lot for a team," said Musikanth. The Ikeys coach is confident that his players will be going all-out to make an impression in Grahamstown. "Whenever UCT plays representative rugby it is important for us to put on an exciting, good show. "We now have to also realize that there is a responsibility that comes with being Varsity Cup champions that means that teams will not take Ikeys lightly so we need to be up and ready for those challenges," he finished off. By Megan Kinnaird

Two UKZN students, Matthew Mandioma and Shayne Makombe have been selected in the Zimbabwe national squad for the World Cup Qualifying Tournament to be played in the Stade Mahamasina in Antanararivo, Madagascar. The Stade Mahamasina is well known for its unique atmosphere; the stadium has only 23,000 seats, yet over 40,000 Malagasy regularly cram the standing terraces when their beloved Les Makis play international matches, and has been described by SARU CEO and FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International chairman, Jurie Roux as one of the most vibrant atmospheres in which he has watched international rugby. Both Mandioma and Makombe are on TRUDA SNACKS tuition bursaries at the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Maritzburg campus. TRUDA company director is ex Varsity and Natal lock Colin van Heerden. Makombe enjoyed some recognition during the Varsity Shield tournament, where he won the Varsity Shield backline player that Rocks award. The Zimbabwe team go into camp next week and will also play a friendly against a Blue Bulls Vodacom Cup selection. The Four Nations qualifying tournament participants are Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Kenya. The tournament winner will automatically qualify for RWC, while the runner up has a second chance in the repechage, where they will face the winner of the Germany v Russia play-off. Former UJ flyhalf Guy Cronje and his twin brother, Ross have also been called up, although their current employer, the Lions franchise has not yet agreed to release them. By Mark Schulze

Two UKZN students, Matthew Mandioma and Shayne Makombe have been selected in the Zimbabwe national squad for the World Cup Qualifying Tournament to be played in the Stade Mahamasina in Antanararivo, Madagascar. The Stade Mahamasina is well known for its unique atmosphere; the stadium has only 23,000 seats, yet over 40,000 Malagasy regularly cram the standing terraces when their beloved Les Makis play international matches, and has been described by SARU CEO and FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International chairman, Jurie Roux as one of the most vibrant atmospheres in which he has watched international rugby. Both Mandioma and Makombe are on TRUDA SNACKS tuition bursaries at the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Maritzburg campus. TRUDA company director is ex Varsity and Natal lock Colin van Heerden. Makombe enjoyed some recognition during the Varsity Shield tournament, where he won the Varsity Shield backline player that Rocks award. The Zimbabwe team go into camp next week and will also play a friendly against a Blue Bulls Vodacom Cup selection. The Four Nations qualifying tournament participants are Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Kenya. The tournament winner will automatically qualify for RWC, while the runner up has a second chance in the repechage, where they will face the winner of the Germany v Russia play-off. Former UJ flyhalf Guy Cronje and his twin brother, Ross have also been called up, although their current employer, the Lions franchise has not yet agreed to release them. By Mark Schulze

Die NWU-Pukke het Saterdagmiddag nie net die gevaarwaters van Greenside in Johannesburg trotseer nie, maar ook gesorg dat ’n gevaarlike Pirates-span 49-30 skipbreuk op hul eie rotse gely het. Sodoende het Hannes Esterhuizen se span Jong Turke weer hul skip op koers gekry ná Roodepoort die vorige naweek die wind uit hul seile gehaal het. Reg, genoeg met die oormaat beeldspraak. Die besoekende studente het altesaam ses drieë gedruk, wat ’n tweekuns vir sowel Eloff Scheepers as Rowayne Beukman ingesluit het. Pirates het van meet af die wind van voor gekry (jammer) en was aan die ontvangkant van ’n Puk-aanslag wat die studente ’n 22-3 voorsprong besorg het. Pirates se vlag het egter nie lank halfmas gehang nie (laaste, belowe) en teen lemoentyd was hul agterstand slegs 22-18. Hierna het die momentum wipplank gery voor Pukke in die laaste 15-minute met die wedstryd weggehardloop het. "Ons het met tye goeie rugby gespeel, maar dit bekommer my dat ons met tye in die wedstryd aan die slaap geraak het," sê hoofafrigter Hannes Esterhuizen. "Die spelers se besluitneming was wel stukke beter as teen Roodepoort en dit het gehelp dat ons ’n paar oumanne terug in die span gehad het, wat die druk op die minder ervare ouens ligter gemaak het. Dit was ook lekker om te sien hoe ons die bal vinnig deur die hande tot by ons vleuels gekry het, iets waarmee ons ook verlede week gesukkel het." Benewens die agterlyn se beter tydsberekening was daar ook weereens geen klagtes oor Pukke se lynstaan nie; dié het klopdisselboom gewerk. Vir die wenspan het agtsteman SJ Niemand ’n barshou gespeel, Hofmann Maritz was vlymskerp vir die tyd wat hy op die veld was, Justin Botha het op losskakel die wedstryd met gesag beheer en kaptein FG Fouché het met oorgawe die donkiewerk gedoen. Hoewel Pukke se wedstryd teen Impala uitgestel is weens laasgenoemde se reisverpligtinge, vind daar Donderdag ’n vriendskaplike wedstryd (met twee Pukspanne wat gaan uitdraf) teen die Luiperds se o.21-span plaas. Hierdie dien as voorbereiding vir die Puk se USSA-veldtog wat einde vandeesmaand afskop. Deur Bertie Jacobs

Bou ’n galg vir ander, en jy hang self daaraan. Dít was die duur les wat die NWU-Puk Vrydagaand in hul wegwedstryd teen Roodepoort geleer het toe die studente se aanvanklike aanslag op ‘Poorte se agttal lelik in hul gesigte opgeblaas het. Dit was ’n fout. Voorlangs is ‘Poorte so sterk soos Jan Wilkens en dit is daar waar hulle die skroewe aangedraai het om ’n welverdiende 30-14 sege uit Pukke te wurg. Ouch. "Ons het verkeerd gespeel," sê hoofafrigter Hannes Esterhuizen. "Inteendeel, ons het presies die teenoorgestelde gespeel as wat ons beplan het. Ons het geweet ons moet nie hul voorspelers in die eerste en tweede kanaal aanval nie, maar eerder die bal wyd vat en hul verdediging rek. Deur dit nie te doen nie kon Roodepoort hul pak bymekaar hou." Pukke het die eerste halfuur of wat die meerderheid besit geniet en was deurlopend, dog onsuksesvol, op die aanval. ‘Poorte se twee drieë net voor halftyd was ’n dwarsklap vir Pukke se gemoedere en hul daaropvolgende twee ná halftyd was genoeg om die besoekers se voete onder hulle uit te haal. Drieë deur Dawie de Koker en Wynand Olivier na die einde se kant toe was bloot troospryse. Waar ‘Poorte op hul pak staatmaak om teenstanders te kielhaal gaan die Puk Saterdag in Johannesburg met ’n meer gebalanseerde Pirates-span kragte meet. "Pirates kan sowel op hul voor en agterspelers se knoppies druk, hulle het takties baie vernuf en hulle gee nooit op nie. Hul skakelpaar het ook hope ervaring en is goeie besluitnemers," verduidelik Esterhuizen. As teenvoeter vir dié ewewig wat hulle in die gesig staar het Esterhuizen sy troepe vandeesweek tydens oefensessies getaak om op hul geduld sowel as besluitneming te fokus. "Ons gaan moet seker maak dat ons meer planmatig op die veld te werk gaan en ook die bal beter gebruik. Ons besluitneming moet definitief verbeter." Die les is geleer. Saterdag gaan dit die studente wees wat gaan poog om dosente teen Pirates te wees. Deur Bertie Jacobs

Former FNB NWU-Pukke lock Lood de Jager is set to become the latest FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International Springbok in the first Test against Wales at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday. The 21-year-old, colossus made a big name for himself at the Cheetahs over the past two seasons, in Super Rugby and is tipped by his franchise captain Adriaan Strauss to play much bigger rugby in the not too distant future. De Jager will get his first sniff of Test rugby, should he come off the bench and make his international debut against the Red Dragons this weekend. He has replaced Flip van der Merwe in the match-day squad, with the Bulls stalwart taking a break to attend his brothers' wedding. Speaking out of the Springboks camp in Durban, the 2,05m tall De Jager said he is looking forward to some game time against Wales. De Jager has recovered from a finger injury in time for the first test after missing out on the Cheetahs last few games and said that he can't describe how he felt getting the call-up to play at the highest level. "The first time I heard I was in the Durban training camp, I was delighted, I just can't describe the emotions I felt. It's a great honour for me," the skyscraper said. "I made the final squad, coach Heyneke Meyer told me earlier in the week that I would be in the match-23 for this weekend. I couldn't believe it, it's a great honour, and I just want to thank the coach for the opportunity. I'll do my best for my country, if I get playing time," the proud player added. Speaking of their opponents, De Jager said he expects a very physical game against the Welsh. "I think it’s going to be physical game. I watched them against the Kings they like to run the ball, so it's going to be a fast-paced game. "I want to bring physicality to the game, and I just want to do my part," he added. Speaking of his injury, De Jager conceded that his was devastated after breaking his finger during Super Rugby. "At first I was devastated, because I felt I had been playing good rugby. At least it was a finger, so I was able to maintain my fitness and carry on training. "The timing was perfect, it healed just in time for the training camp. The injury healed nicely and I'm feeling good," De Jager concluded. His Cheetahs teammate, Cornal Hendricks starts at wing for his debut, while Willie le Roux slots in at fullback, and France-bound Johan Goosen warms the bench. South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp. Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Johan Goosen, 23 Lwazi Mvovo. By Morgan Piek