by Ken Borland
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has packed his bench with front row players in anticipation of a torrid forward onslaught from France in Friday's test in Toulouse.
In the squad announced on Tuesday, hooker Adriaan Strauss, loosehead prop Wian du Preez, who is uncapped, and tighthead CJ van der Linde, currently playing for Leinster in Ireland, will all be amongst the replacements on Friday, giving de Villiers an entire front row in reserve.
South Africa took a battering in the scrums during their loss to Leicester in the opening game of their European Tour last weekend and de Villiers said he expected France to attack the world champions in the same area.
"If you study the way France play, then you know to expect a forward onslaught. We don't have anything to fear, but we have to be ready for it and a full front row on the bench is the right thing to do," de Villiers told a news conference on Tuesday.
Springbok captain John Smit, who controversially moved from hooker to tighthead prop during the 2008 end-of-year tour, said he also believed the French pack would be out to give them a rough time in the forward exchanges.
"They have a well-balanced pack and they do their primary jobs very well. They secure good ball from the set phases and provide a very solid foundation for the team, and they use the conditions well," Smit said.
The starting XV shows four changes from the team that beat New Zealand in Hamilton in September to win the Tri-Nations.
Adrian Jacobs, who enjoyed a top-class season in 2008 before being injured, replaces Jean de Villiers at inside centre. Jacobs is a fine attacking player, but is considered a defensive weakness by many critics.
Zane Kirchner will start at fullback in place of Francois Steyn, who has headed for France to play for Racing Metro, and is the third player to wear the number 15 jersey for the Springboks this season.
JP Pietersen returns on the wing in place of Odwa Ndungane while Pierre Spies will play no part in the tour due to a serious finger injury and has been replaced by Ryan Kankowski.
Team - 15-Zane Kirchner, 14-JP Pietersen, 13-Jaque Fourie, 12-Adrian Jacobs, 11-Bryan Habana, 10-Morne Steyn, 9-Fourie du Preez, 8-Ryan Kankowski, 7-Schalk Burger, 6-Heinrich Brussow, 5-Victor Matfield, 4-Bakkies Botha, 3-John Smit, 2-Bismarck du Plessis, 1-Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: 16-Adriaan Strauss, 17-Wian du Preez, 18-CJ van der Linde, 19-Andries Bekker, 20-Danie Rossouw, 21-Ruan Pienaar, 22-Wynand Olivier.
(Editing by Barry Moody)
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