The Springbok starting XV to face France in Toulouse on Friday

So the Springbok team for the match Friday evening will be as follows:
15 Zane Kirchner (1)
14 JP Pietersen (30)
13 Jaque Fourie (51)
12 Adi Jacobs (28)
11 Bryan Habana (54)
10 Morné Steyn (9)
9 Fourie du Preez (52)
8 Ryan Kankowski (9)
7 Schalk Burger (53)
6 Heinrich Brüssow (10)
5 Victor Matfield (89)
4 Bakkies Botha (63)
3 John Smit – Captain (90)
2 Bismarck du Plessis (30)
1 Tendai Mtawarira (19)


So here is my take on the team selection and things that we will have to keep a look out for – There will be the battle up front that is going to be fundamental in the outcome of the match. I have seen that a hard battle upfront certainly have an effect on the way a team dominates and controls the match. France have one of the biggest front five combinations in world rugby at the moment. We must see if South Africa can stand up to the task that have been set by these players.
I do think that South Africa should fare well in the loose with Heinrich Brüssow and Schalk Burger both fetchers and complementing each other well. It is a pity that Spies was ruled out due to injury as that would be by first choice.
I do think the most stringent test will fall on Zane Kirchner and Adi Jacobs which has to fill cardinal positions and will be playing in stead of De Villiers and Steyn which have been playing well during the whole Tri Nations campaign. I predict a very close game that might be won by drop goals and penalties in stead of the wide open running Rugby. Good luck Boks!