Pieter-Steph will help give more muscle

THE last time South African Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit started at flank, the Boks slumped to a dramatic World Cup loss against Japan in Brighton.

That defeat could not be pinned on Du Toit alone, but it is not a good omen as he gets set to reprise the back row role against England at Twickenham on Saturday.

Du Toit, 24, is set to start with the No 6 on his back, with Willem Alberts likely to start at blindside and Oupa Mohoje dropping to the bench in an attempt to add power to the Bok pack.

Coach Allister Coetzee has been coy about his back-row selections after the unfortunate Roelof Smit was ruled out with an injury on Monday.

The situation could play into Coetzee’s hands because turning to Du Toit for this encounter will immediately up the physicality and power of his pack.

The Boks are desperate to win the collisions to give themselves a chance of keeping a 10-year unbeaten run against England intact.

By slotting Du Toit into the back row, lock Lood de Jager, whose suspension for dangerous play is over, brings his own brand of bruising physicality to the pack.

The Boks will also beef up their lineout with three locks on the park.

De Jager will return to partner Eben Etzebeth at lock. With hooker and captain Adriaan Strauss also back in the mix, Tendai Mtawarira at loosehead and Vincent Koch at tighthead, the Boks pack will field seven real heavyweights. Warren Whiteley will add high work rate and speed at No 8.

“It will be a physical battle, I can guarantee you that,” Coetzee said. “Rugby’s about physical dominance “It’s about coming out on top at scrum time and mauling. England maul a lot as well.

Centre Francois Venter also appears to be in line for a test debut, starting at outside centre. Probable team: 15-Willie le Roux, 14-JP Pietersen, 13-Francois Venter, 12-Damian de Allende, 11-Bryan Habana, 10-Pat Lambie, 9-Rudy Paige, 8-Warren Whiteley, 7-Willem Alberts, 6-Pieter-Steph du Toit, 5-Lood de Jager, 4-Eben Etzebeth, 3-Vincent Koch, 2-Adriaan Strauss (capt), 1-Tendai Mtawarira. 16-Bongi Mbonambi, 17-Steven Kitshoff, 18-Lourens Adriaanse, 19-Franco Mostert, 20-Teboho Mohoje, 21-Faf de Klerk, 22-Elton Jantjies, 23-Ruan Combrinck.