South Africa - star players

BOBBY SKINSTAD
No 8
A golden boy whose destiny was fulfilled when coach Harry Viljoen made himthe Springboks' 50th skipper in the summer. One of the world's outstandingloose forwards, 25-year-old Skinstad exploded onto the Test sceneagainst England at Twickenham in 1997. He has had to fight back from aserious knee injury sustained in a car crash but still has the pace and eyefor a gap that most centres would die for.

BRAAM VAN STRAATEN
fly half
Good bloke but a controversial stop-gap choice while the South Africanslook for a gifted playmaker such as Stephen Larkham or Jonny Wilkinson.Braam's boring say the critics, but he's strong and a good tackler and, mostImportantly, a match-winning kicker either from a dead-ball situation orfrom hand. Ask England, who watched a record five drop kicks sail over theposts in Paris when the Springboks knocked them out of the World Cup. Itwill be the 30-year-old's Test swansong since he joins Leeds Tykes afterthe tour.

CONRAD JANTJES
full back
This all-round sportsman and prodigious talent could be the answer to theSouth African's prayers at full back. Coach Harry Viljoen gave him hisdebut against Italy in the summer after three spectacular seasons in theUnder 21s. Has represented his country at three different sports being nomean cricketer and soccer player. Faced one Michael Owen while playing forSouth Africa's Under 17 soccer team and could easily have been playingdown at the Bridge after having a trial with Chelsea in 1995.

JOHN SMIT
hooker
One of the new breed of Springbok forwards, 21-year-old Smit is beingtipped as a future captain. He moved effortlessly up the ladder - youngestplayer to get his colours at Pretoria High, youngest player to representNatal and captain of South Africa's World Under 21 champions two seasonsago. Previous Springbok coach Nick Mallett suggested a switch from prop tohooker and this strong scrummaging, hard driving but mobile player has madehimself a fixture in the team.

England play South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday, November 24, 2001.

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