Victor Matfield is over his injury problems and will rejoin the Springbok squad when they get together for the Australasian leg of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, while Marcel van der Merwe has been called up for the injured Frans Malherbe.
Furthermore, Willem Alberts has also been drafted back into the squad, pending a fitness test on Thursday when the squad gets together in Johannesburg. Both Alberts and Matfield were part of the initial 30-man squad, but missed out on the victories over Argentina in Pretoria and Salta because of injury.
sarugby
Van der Merwe will join the rest of the touring party in Johannesburg on Thursday. Malherbe will have to undergo surgery on his fractured ankle and is likely to miss the rest of the season because of this injury.
With Matfield and Alberts, if passed fit, returning for the two-week tour to Australia and New Zealand, Warren Whiteley and Juan Smith will drop out. Smith, however, will remain on standby if Alberts is deemed unable to tour.
“Victor is over his injury and has been declared fit to travel with us for the next two tests, while we’re awaiting a final verdict on Willem,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
“It will be good to have them back. Willem has been part of the squad for the last number of seasons and Victor showed he can still add a lot of value when he returned to the Bok fold earlier this year.
“Losing Frans is a huge setback and my heart bleeds for him, because he’s done well since returning from a long injury lay-off recently which saw him miss the June tests.
“It’s also a big disappointment for Frans, whose involvement with the squad was cut short because of injury last November as well, but Marcel has been with us before and will slot in seamlessly. He provides specialist tighthead cover as Tendai Mtawarira, Gurthrö Steenkamp and Trevor Nyakane are specialist looseheads.”
Meyer added that Whiteley had impressed him immensely during his week with the Springboks and that Smith had made a massive contribution during his time with the squad in the last fortnight.
“Warren and Juan know exactly where they stand and it was great to work with them, even if it was only for a limited period of time,” said Meyer.
The Springboks returned from Argentina on Monday and will enjoy a short break before reconvening in Johannesburg on Thursday. They are scheduled to depart for Perth on Saturday.
Springbok squad:
Forwards: Willem Alberts, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Brits, Marcell Coetzee, Lodewyk de Jager, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Francois Louw, Victor Matfield, Teboho Mohoje, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Adriaan Strauss, Marcel van der Merwe, Duane Vermeulen.
Backs: Damian de Allende, Jean de Villiers (captain), Bryan Habana, Cornal Hendricks, Francois Hougaard, Patrick Lambie, Willie le Roux, Lwazi Mvovo, Ruan Pienaar, Handré Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Jan Serfontein, Morné Steyn.
@ Nama:
40 to 45 average an average player?
I don’t think so.
Look at players who have finished their careers in that range .
Average I don’t think so.
😆
@ gunther:
“AB all class.”
That he is.
I remember the 1st time I saw him opening in a D/N match with Jaques Rudolph and I though, this kid is going to be great. Was very surprise when Rudolph was elected for the national team first. My only criticism of him current is his poor conversion rate. Both in tests and ODI’s.
@ gunther:
I know where you coming from but in the modern era, every Tom, Dick and Harry averages 35-40. Surely that can’t be a yardstick for an average test player anymore, like when Jonty Rhodes played.
@ Nama:
Agreed however he’s got out a lot in the nineties so it’s probably quite unflattering.
Certainly him and Hashim are the shining lights in our batting lineup.
They will go on to break a lot of records.
Anyway any day where we chase down 300 plus vs the Ozzies is a good day.
I think they erred in not picking a frontline spinner .
@ Nama:
Let’s hope the Bokke replicate things.
😆
@ gunther:
That’s all we have left… hope.
Not many out there who believe, is there?
😉
Nama wrote:
Me , and the rest of my glass half full club 😀
@ nortierd:
125 @ Nama:
When Faf got out i was getting nightmares of india 450 all over again when JP dominantly choked all over our world record chase 😀
Well done on his match winning 20 runs.
@ 117 nortierd said:
“@ Angostura:
Out of a matter of interest, how many of the All Blacks that Hansen is selecting stems from Henry’s 8 year tenure and perhaps further back, and how many new players has he brought in as regular starters who have usurped some of the 2007 and 2011 WC players?
Will be interesting to compare”
**
I am concerned about the Bokke & not the All Blacks or any other team – that’s why I did not do a comparative analysis, but since you asked,
hierso, vat hom fluffy 😀 :
Based on my view of which RWC 2015 squads Hansen & Meyer would likely select, fitness permitting, we have the following comparison:
All Blacks ex RWC 2003 – 4 veterans (Carter, Nonu, Mealamu & McCaw)
Bokke ex RWC 2003 – 4 veterans
All Blacks ex RWC 2007 – further 2 veterans (Woodcock & Conrad Smith)
Bokke ex RWC 2007 – further 9 veterans
All Blacks ex RWC 2011 – further 7 experienced players (Owen Franks, Sam Whitelock, Kaino, Read, Cruden, SB Williams, Dagg)
Bokke ex RWC 2011 – further 7 experienced players
Rookies introduced by Hansen into the AB squad – 13 (D Coles, C Faumuina, P Tuipulotu, B Retallick, L Romano, S Luatua, S Cane, Aaron Smith, T Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenera, J Savea, M Fekitoa, C Piutau)
Rookies introduced by Meyer into the Bok squad – 8
Number of Hansen rookies in preferred AB match XXIII – 8 (Coles, Faumuina, Retallick, Romano, Cane, A Smith, Kerr-Barlow, J Savea)
Number of Meyer rookies in preferred Bok match XXIII – 5
Hope you find that interesting, nortie – the comparison speaks for itself …
Oh, by the way, as indicated by our Kiwi bloggers, several of those Hansen rookies are already world class, but most know that already …
@ Angostura:
Corey Jane 2011 WC Team
Ben Smith, Messam, Crockett ….players omitted from 2011 WC squad that have played a big part since.
Other rookies who have a chance to make 2015 WC…. Ryan Crotty, Francis Saeali ???
@ grootblousmile:
Bullscot described my first post (number 33) on this thread about this matter as a “post filled with a combination of facts and opinion/perception …”. Indeed, he was spot on, and it even involves some (educated?) prognostication, and it was intended as such.
So many bloggers (& webmasters), so many opinions, eh?
Anyway, diverse opinion & robust discussion make for a vibrant blog.
I did not expect my posts about this topic to be well received by most & hence your response does not surprise me.
But that does not concern or deter me because I’m not participating in a popularity contest.
As regards the gist of your counter opinion, I’m bookmarking my posts and your response thereto, & once HM announces his RWC 2015 squad, and again subsequent to RWC 2015 when the $hyte hits the fan, we can exchange notes & establish who was closer to the mark.
G’nite
@ Te Rangatira:
You are correct, but they were already All Blacks when Hansen became coach – they were not Hansen rookies brought into the All Blacks ranks by Hansen.
I’m comparing the rookies selected & brought into the national fold by Hansen & Meyer during their respective tenures as head coaches of their respective national teams.
@ Angostura:
Oh ok….I think Crotty is a rookie brought in by Hansen…. Dominic Bird….Thrush…. these guys have a chance or an outside chance through injury to make 2015 team….
Angostura wrote:
That thesis should be interesting… I await too… Keep it up Angostura.
@ Te Rangatira:
hmmm, yes, I overlooked Cory Jane for the 2011 RWC squad – that makes it 8 (not 7) All Blacks ex RWC 2011 in the projected RWC 2015 squad – thx for pointing out.
My post 163 refers to Ben Smith, Messam & Crockett
Although they will be very unlucky, I do not foresee Crotty & Saili making your RWC squad – the competition is too fierce, there are only so many positions available & there will be some hard luck cases.
Ciao then
@ Te Rangatira:
I am not looking at ALL Hansen rookies, only the 12 I anticipate will be selected by him into his RWC 2015 squad
Out
162 @ Angostura:
Fair call… we’ll exchange notes later again.
Do not see my argument as an attack though, see it in the light that we differ on analysing the current situation.
My biggest bone of contention here is the fact that Heyneke or whomever, must choose the BEST Bokke Squad… or McKenzie the Wallaby Squad… or Hansen the All Blacks Squad, in stead of looking at age or at how many Tests the players have played, under whatever coach.
The way things are at present with the Bokke, I am not happy with the scrumming woes and certain other elements… and I do not see a World Cup in our closet after Rugby World Cup 2015 at this pace.
A week, or 2 weeks however is a long time in rugby, as was wittnessed this past weekend where the All Blacks went from a draw against the Wobblies to a massive walloping of the same side.
Hope the Bokke can surprize us in a positive fashion too… would be great.
160 @ Angostura:
Thanks for posting the comparisons.
I’m of a mixed opinion regarding the Bokke squad.
I’m concerned that HM can’t select too many rookies, simple because we don’t have, unlike popular SA opinion, so many world class players.
New Zealand bring through players who are better than SA, but I will put a lot of that down to our poor SR coaches and stoic game plans.
Our veterans are also a concern, they are good enough to beat most countries, but not good enough to beat NZ.
Every side competing in the WC will have a blend of previous WC players and some new players, so it’s not unique to us, I’m not convinced our 2007 team will be up to the task, but it’s too late to blood a new squad now, and the fact that so few youngsters are standing out makes it more difficult.
The injury concerns of the few youngsters identified is also a major concern, eg Goosen, Etzebeth and PSdT to name a few.
They were earmarked by HM to play a big role, but he can’t really rely on them or do long term planning if they are perennially injured, hence Morne, Bakkies and Victor having to still save our bacon.
Our youngsters are being shown up in the SR, so I don’t blame him for reverting back to players who have seen it and done it in the past.
I dont have a problem with who he picks.
He must compile a team to play a game plan. Each player must have its role and do it well.
If he picks the wrong guy for HIS game plan and cant change the player to fit in, that player must go
My problem is , our game plan. Yes it is good enough to beat the rest of the World.
But NOT to beat the Ab,s
The AB,s have too many plans and never give up. You must outplay them and dominate them for 83 minutes. No use taking them on for 60 minutes. They never roll over.
The Springbok team is not compiled or build for that yet. Will HM be known as the Bridesmaid Coach?
170 @ superBul:
” Will HM be known as the Bridesmaid Coach?”
Only if he leaves the Boks and takes the coaching job at the Sharks
@ nortierd:
Good morning all.Have a great day.
@ ryecatcher:
Morning Rye
You too
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