Van der Merwe flips his lid over 'ungrateful' Meyer's team selection

News24 | 29 October, 2015 14:45

South Africa lock Flip van der Merwe.
Image by: MIKE HUTCHINGS / REUTERS

Lock Flip van der Merwe has criticised Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer’s selection for the Rugby World Cup Bronze final against Argentina in London on Friday.

Meyer made only two changes to the starting team from the one which lost 20-18 in the semi-finals against New Zealand last weekend - one of which was injury-enforced.

Victor Matfield replaces Lood de Jager at lock and takes over the over the captaincy from the injured Fourie du Preez (cheek), whose place in the No 9 jersey is taken by Ruan Pienaar, with Rudy Paige coming in on the bench.

Van der Merwe, whose last Test was against Argentina in Buenos Aires earlier this year, feels it was the ideal opportunity to give players a run who did not feature much in the tournament.

He tweeted his disappointment after Meyer named his team on Wednesday:

Van der Merwe, who has played 37 Tests for the Springboks, had earlier made himself unavailable for national selection due to a contractual dispute, but answered Mayer’s call for the Test against Argentina back in August.

He was however not included in Meyer’s 31-man World Cup squad.

Friday’s clash at London’s Olympic Park is scheduled for 22:00 (SA time).

Source: Sport2
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