Prodigal son Francois Steyn is due to link up with the Springboks in Cardiff today

MIKE GREENAWAY IN DUBLIN

Prodigal son Francois Steyn is due to link up with the Springboks in Cardiff today, and not a moment too soon given that Jean de Villiers’ groin injury has worsened, but Peter de Villiers may well look to Patrick Lambie to occupy inside centre against Wales on Saturday.
The coach said that De Villiers “aggravated” his groin injury just four minutes into the Test match against Ireland but had persevered until the time was opportune for him to be replaced (by Adrian Jacobs)
Ordinarily, De Villiers would never have started (he has been carrying the injury since the Currie Cup semi-final) but given the severe injury problems in the midfield, his old head was required, particularly as a morale booster.
Coach De Villiers faces an interesting selection quandary given that conditions will be dry at the Millennium Stadium (the roof can be drawn over if the weather is inclement). He saw the difference Lambie made to the backline when he replaced struggling Morne Steyn in the 60th minute of the match with his snappy passing and the debutant’s swift distribution created the opportunity for Gio Aplon’s try.
It might be too much of a quantum shift for the coaching staff to drop Steyn in which case they might pick Lambie at 12, a position he played well in during the middle stages of the Currie Cup.
Francois Steyn, of course, can play fullback and if De Villiers goes that route, Aplon could be shifted to wing.
The coach confirmed that Morne Steyn had been taken off tactical reasons 20 minutes from time.
“We were in control up front and we felt it was time to play more attacking rugby. Also, we wanted to blood our young guys because you don’t know what will happen later in the tour. You want to get them started. We felt it was the right time to bring on Patrick.”
Apart from Jean de Villiers, the coach said that the team had come through the match relatively unscathed.