The captain was in scintillating form last year before sustaining his horror injury, and the coach will be hoping that he recaptures that comfort and ability in a Boks jersey in the remaining Rugby Championship games before the team travel to England for the flagship competition next month.
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“They are not 100% ready yet and with the World Cup now six weeks away, we decided against risking them in this match”.
Instead, it’s gone the other way.
He continued his comeback with two appearances for his province while South Africa suffered narrow southern hemisphere championship losses to Australia and world champions New Zealand.
As Australia and New Zealand meet to decide the title, Meyer’s credibility is likely on the line on Saturday.
De Villiers said on Friday (Saturday NZT) it was “highly unlikely” he would play worldwide rugby in 2016, meaning next month’s global showpiece could bring to a close a Springbok career he had feared was already over.
Jean de Villiers will complete his remarkable comeback from a serious knee injury by leading South Africa against Argentina at King’s Park on Saturday. Kriel, who scored two tries in his first two tests, has shifted to wing.
The 106-cap veteran said he is happy with the progress his team have made despite losing their last two Tests.
“We will never accept that we lost our last two Tests”, Meyer said.
Meyer said star scrum-half Fourie du Preez and flanker Willem Alberts were considered for selection after lengthy injury absences, but the coach opted to give them more recovery time.
Hourcade has returned to the centre pairing of Jeronimo de la Fuente and Marcelo Bosch, who played in the Championship opener against New Zealand, but were replaced by Juan Pablo Socino and Matias Moroni for the Australia game.
Jean De Villiers is set to call it quits after the World Cup.
“It is going to be tough because the Pumas are coming for us, as they have done during the past three seasons”, conceded Meyer.
“I have started to think that I’m cursed when it comes to World Cups, so to have come on and helping the team get the win that booked our place in the quarterfinals is great”.
Hooker Agustin Creevy will captain the side, with lock Tomas Lavanini and prop Marcos Ayerza the only other forwards to retain their place.
Starting 15th: Willie le Roux, Jesse Kriel, Jean delaware Villiers (skipper), Damian onze Allende, Bryan Habana, Handre Pollard, Ruan Pienaar, Schalk Burger, Marcell Coetzee, Heinrich Brussow, Lood delaware Jager, Eben…
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Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane, Marcel van der Merwe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Cobus Reinach, Pat Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo.
