Ellis dropped from solid Springbok team

Press, 9 August 1976, Page 6

Ellis dropped from solid Springbok team

NZPA Pretori The South African rugby selectors went for solidno instead of speed last night when they dropped the Ja 1 Ellis, from the team to meet the .All Blacks in the second test a Bloemfontein next Saturday.

Ellis, who first played for the Springboks when he toured New Zealand with the 1965 side, is thus denied the opportunity of setting a testmatch playing record for a South African.

He gives way to the bigger, younger Theuns Stofberg and unless he wins his place back after the second test, Ellis will end his test career after 38 appearances, equal with Frik du Preez’s record. The inclusion of Stofberg, who played against the All Blacks for the South African invitation XV at Cape Town earlier in the tour, is an indication that the Springbok selectors want big strong men for the second test.

Stofberg, 6ft-plus and close to 16 stone, does not have the

speed of Ellis, but he is a strong defensive player and with Boland Coetzee and Morne du Plessis will give the Springboks a strong loose forward trio. Ellis is one of three first test players not selected this time.

Edrich Krantz, who scored a try in his test debut at Newlands. gives way after only one game to the Western Province winger Chris Pope, who played in both tests against France last season. And Peter Whipp goes into the reserves, with lan Robertson taking back his centre spot with the availability again of Dawie Snyman, who had to pull out of the first test with a leg injury.

The team is:— D. S. L. Snyman (Wester.. Province); J. N. Germishuvs ■ (Orange Free State), J 'j. Oosthuizen CW.P.). I. W. Robertson (Rhodesia), C. F Pope (W.P). G. R. Bosch (Transvaal); P C. R. Bayvel (T.); M. du Plessis (captain, W.P.); J. H. H Coetzee (W.P.), J. G. Williams (Northern Transvaal): J. L. van Heerden (N.T.), M. T. N. Stofberg (0.F.5.); J. C. J Stander (0.F.5.). R J. Cockrell (W.P). D. S. Van den Berg (W.P.). Reserves: Backs. P. J. M. Whipp (W. P.). W. J. D. W Ras (0.F.5.), B. J. Wolmarans (0.F.5.). Forwards, J. F. R van Wyk (Natal). K. B. H. de Klerk (T.), D. C. du Plessis (N.T.).