Victor MatfieldSchalk BurgerCornal HendricksSibusiso SitholeLodewyk De JagerTeboho MahojeHeinrich BrussowSouth AfricaWorld champion Springboks Victor Matfield and Schalk Burger as well as two former Blitzbok stars, Cornal Hendricks and S’bura Sithole, are included in a 36-man squad to attend a national training camp in Durban from 25 to 28 May, the South African Rugby Union announced on Monday.

Cell C Sharks back Sithole and Hendricks, the SA Sevens Player of the Year in 2013, are two of eight uncapped players in the squad. The others are the Toyota Cheetahs duo of Lood de Jager (lock) and Teboho “Oupa” Mohoje (loose forward); Marcel van der Merwe (prop) and Jacques du Plessis (flank/lock) of the Vodacom Bulls; Marnitz Boshoff (flyhalf) of the Lions and the DHL Stormers’ Damian De Allende (centre/wing).

They will join Matfield, Burger and Toyota Cheetahs flanker Heinrich Brüssow – who are back in the national set up for the first time since the last Rugby World Cup in 2011 – in a training squad that is missing a number of players due to injury.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer said he was happy with the form of a number of the country’s top players and the uncapped players who have grabbed their chance this season, as well as the re-appearance from retirement and long-term injury of Matfield and Burger.

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“Victor and Schalk have been out of rugby for a long time. They’ve really been in great form recently and the fact that they have not been with the Boks for more than two years, has made them hungry for Test rugby yet again,” said Meyer.

“It’s great to welcome them back into the Springbok fold and I know both of them can still add a lot of value to the team with the Rugby World Cup in 2015 looming.

“I’m also looking forward to working with Heinrich for the first time. He’s been playing very well for the Toyota Cheetahs since returning from injury and brings a lot of experience.

“However, the message to every player in this training squad is clear – everyone must accelerate in each area from the first moment we are together as a team and that inclusion in this squad is no guarantee of selection.”

Meyer said that injuries had been a concern but they had allowed other players to press their claims. A number of players in the squad are still nursing niggles or recently returned from long-term injuries.

“It looks like most of the guys are improving weekly and a few new players have put up their hands, which is good to see with the first match of the season, against the World XV in Cape Town, only a few weeks away.” said Meyer.

“It’s also very encouraging to see a bunch of new players emerging from Vodacom Super Rugby. This camp will provide us with a great opportunity to work with these players before the squad for the Castle Lager Incoming Series is finalised. I am looking forward to work with these players for the first time.

“This is a very big year for us and the players know they will have to step up a gear, be sharp and focused from the moment we get going in Durban. We have 14 very challenging matches ahead in 2014 and it’s imperative that we build on what was a good season last year.

“It’s important that we start building continuity because there are just 18 matches left until the Rugby World Cup starts. But it’s just as important to recognise continuous good form. We also have a number of players struggling with injury niggles or returning from injury which we have to assess.”

Players based in France, England and Ireland were not considered for this camp as most of them are still playing for their respective clubs.

However, the experienced Fourie du Preez, who played for the Springboks in 2013, has been invited to the camp in Durban as he is available for the Castle Lager Incoming Series against Wales and Scotland as well as against the Samsung-sponsored World XV.

The players invited to the training camp will assemble in Durban on Sunday morning and will return to their franchises on Wednesday morning.

“We have a good working relationship with our local franchises and we have to thank them, as well as Suntory in Japan, for allowing their players to attend this camp,” said Meyer.

Players who were involved with the Springboks last year, but were not considered for selection because of medium to long-term injuries, are Scarra Ntubeni (foot), Chiliboy Ralepelle (knee), Frik Kirsten (neck), Pieter-Steph du Toit (knee), Franco van der Merwe (ankle), Arno Botha (knee), Pierre Spies (bicep), Louis Schreuder (hand), Pat Lambie (bicep), Gio Aplon (elbow) and Jaque Fourie, who could potentially miss the entire Test season because of an ankle injury.

 

The 36-man Springbok training squad is:

Forwards (20): Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Toyota Cheetahs), Marcel van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls)*, Jannie du Plessis (Cell C Sharks), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Coenie Oosthuizen (Toyota Cheetahs), Bismarck du Plessis (Cell C Sharks), Adriaan Strauss (Toyota Cheetahs), Eben Etzebeth (DHL Stormers), Lood de Jager (Toyota Cheetahs)*, Victor Matfield (Vodacom Bulls), Flip van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls), Heinrich Brüssow (Toyota Cheetahs), Marcell Coetzee (Cell C Sharks), Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers), Willem Alberts (Cell C Sharks), Jacques du Plessis (Vodacom Bulls)*, Teboho Mohoje (Toyota Cheetahs)*, Duane Vermeulen (DHL Stormers), Schalk Burger (DHL Stormers).

Backs (16): Fourie du Preez (Suntory, Japan), Francois Hougaard (Vodacom Bulls), Johan Goosen (Toyota Cheetahs), Marnitz Boshoff (Lions)*, Jean de Villiers (DHL Stormers), Damian De Allende (DHL Stormers)*, Jan Serfontein (Vodacom Bulls), Juan de Jongh (DHL Stormers), JJ Engelbrecht (Vodacom Bulls), S’bura Sithole (Cell C Sharks)*, Frans Steyn (Cell C Sharks), Lwazi Mvovo (Cell C Sharks), Bjorn Basson (Vodacom Bulls), JP Pietersen (Cell C Sharks), Cornal Hendricks (Toyota Cheetahs)*, Willie le Roux (Toyota Cheetahs).

* – Uncapped at Test level

187 Responses to June Internationals: Springboks – Meyer names 36-man training squad

  • 181

    MacroBull wrote:

    The challenge is, do we play the world xv with a bunch of youngsters, against a world class team? Or do we want to play our best and make sure we win, to get some momentum going?

    I would like to see a combination of old and new. Something like this:
    15. Willie le Roux
    14. Cornal Hendricks
    13. Jean de Villiers
    12. Damian De Allende
    11. Lwazi Mvovo
    10. Johan Goosen
    9. Francois Hougaard
    8. Duane Vermeulen
    7. Teboho Mohoje
    6. Heinrich Brüssow
    5. Victor Matfield
    4. Flip van der Merwe
    3. Frans Malherbe
    2. Bismarck du Plessis
    1. Coenie Oosthuizen

  • 182

    Goosen and Hougaard not ideal, but not too many options in Meyer’s squad. We should be aiming to play expansively in this game, so these two get the nod. Willie to interchange with Goosen as he does for the Cheetahs.

  • 183

    @ kaksioek:
    Willie and Goosen dont really interchange, I dont think it is that good a combination… I dont think bismarck will play though, and im not sold on JDv at 13, there there has not been any real challenge there. Good team though, Id certainly like to give them a shot.

  • 184

    Duane also should get a rest hopefully, surely we cant expect him and bissie to play in eery single game this year.

  • 185

    Jacque Dup could be a darkhorse for the final squad, while he is not Juan Smith of Schalk it is worth noting how he has improved in one year since the Currie Cup and it is worth having him hang around, because there is so much more he still will improve before next year.

  • 186

    @ MacroBull: I’m not a big fan of Goosen this year, but Willie does slot into 10 on attack sometimes and he could do this for the Boks (as he did last year). Duane does need a rest, but who (from Meyer’s squad) would start in his place? The only real options are Alberts (already under a heavy workload) or maybe Schalk. I guess Schalk could do it, but I still remember not being impressed by his inability to control the ball at the back of the scrum against the US during RWC 2007 (Yes, he was named MOTM – but he still lost control of the ball with our scrum going forward at a rate of knots against the Eagles).

  • 187

    @ kaksioek:
    I agree, Goosen has been lucky to be there. The Cheetahs have done well this year with Willie and Watts changing roles now and then, if Goosen plays flyhalf he wants and needs to be in control, which is fine but with him there Willie’s role in the team gets diminished.

    @ kaksioek:
    Schalk went through a slight lull in his career where is was all about physicality, lately he has actually shown some versatility, with a deft offload here and there not full speed head first into the defender, or the classic 30meters across field… now that you mention it, I would love to see Schalla have a go at no8!

    No one in the current squad is adept at 8, there WILL be a few surprise inclusions, in final squad.

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