Julian Redelinghuys

Julian Redelinghuys

Robbie Coetzee

Robbie Coetzee

Jaco Kriel

Jaco Kriel

Nizaam Carr

Nizaam Carr

Seabelo Senatla

Seabelo Senatla

Five newcomers and two returnees have been added to the bulk of the Springboks’ Castle Lager Rugby Championship squad as the national selectors opted for continuity and rewarding form in naming a 36-man squad for next month’s tour to the Northern Hemisphere.

Twenty-nine of the 36 players named for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour were part of the Rugby Championship squad. They will be joined by the uncapped quintet of Robbie Coetzee, Julian Redelinghuys, Nizaam Carr, Jaco Kriel and Seabelo Senatla, while Coenie Oosthuizen and Johan Goosen have been recalled to the squad for the tour of four Tests.

“It’s wonderful to have this kind of continuity in selection, while the five uncapped players in the squad have all been rewarded for superb form throughout the season,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.

“Many of the selected players were at our training camp in Stellenbosch last week where we put in a lot of very hard work. We’ll have to hit the ground running when we assemble in Johannesburg on Wednesday before we depart on what will be a challenging tour.

sarugby

“We start against the Six Nations champions in Dublin and then take on England, who have been on an upward curve over the last couple of years. Italy is always a tough customer at home and the Welsh have probably been one of the most consistent teams in the last number of seasons.”

Meyer congratulated all the players with their selection and said he is looking forward to the opportunity to work with the five newcomers for the first time.

“Julian has been impressive all season and if it wasn’t for injuries, he might have been a Springbok already,” said Meyer.

“He was great in Vodacom Super Rugby and the Absa Currie Cup, where his strong scrummaging has been a hallmark of the Lions’ play. Going north, scrummaging will be vitally important and we would like to see what he can do in those circumstances.

“Next to Julian, Robbie was part of a very dominant Lions scrum throughout the season and this is also a reward for his consistently good performances, while he is also very secure when it comes to throwing into the line-outs.

“Both Nizaam and Jaco have been great in 2014, building on their fine Vodacom Super Rugby form in the Absa Currie Cup where they excelled in the two teams that reached the final.

“Nizaam is a versatile loose forward who can play any position in the back row and has proven his worth at flank and No 8 this season.

“Jaco, who is really very fast for a loose forward and scored the most tries in the Absa Currie Cup this season, is more of a traditional openside flank, a position for which we need cover following Francois Louw’s injury.

“This tour will be a great challenge for both these players to see what they can bring to the table, especially as we only have eight Tests left before the Rugby World Cup next year and we have to ascertain what depth we have at our disposal.

“Seabelo’s speed is well-known to anyone who’s seen him play for the Blitzboks this year and he is now the third player from the Springbok Sevens set-up to be called-up to the Springboks, which is a great compliment to their structures. He’s also made the most of his opportunities in the Absa Currie Cup and we’d like to see if he can take another step up in the toughest circumstances.”

On the returning Oosthuizen and Goosen, Meyer said: “Coenie has been out injured but he made a great return recently. He can pack down on both sides of the scrum and he is in excellent condition, so it’s a pleasure to welcome him back.

“Johan is now playing most of his rugby at fullback and is performing very well in a position where I’ve always thought that he could become a great player. His versatility will come in handy if needed as he is a similar player to Willie in many ways. We also have Pat Lambie who is a great option at fullback – with a smaller squad for the Rugby World Cup next year, these options will be very important.”

None of the overseas-based players will be available for the final match of the tour, against Wales in Cardiff on 29 November, as it falls outside the international Test window. Ruan Pienaar’s selection in the squad is pending a fitness Test next week in Dublin, where he will join the squad on Sunday.

“The Test in Cardiff will be our second of the season which falls outside the window and as we saw in Port Elizabeth against Scotland in June, this is a great test of our depth,” said Meyer.

The following Springboks and players who have been involved with the national team before were not considered for selection due to injury: Fourie du Preez, Schalk Brits, Callie Visagie, Frans Malherbe, Marcel van der Merwe, Flip van der Merwe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Francois Louw, Siya Kolisi, Arno Botha, Pierre Spies and Willem Alberts. The latter could come into consideration at a later stage during the tour.

 

Springbok squad for End Of Year Castle Lager Outgoing Tour 2014:

  • Bakkies Botha (Toulon, France) – Lock, 83 Test caps
  • Schalk Burger (Suntory, Japan) – Loose forward, 73 Test caps
  • Nizaam Carr (DHL Western Province) – Loose forward, uncapped
  • Marcell Coetzee (Cell C Sharks) – Loose forward, 22 Test caps
  • Robbie Coetzee (Xerox Golden Lions) – Hooker, uncapped
  • Damian de Allende (DHL Western Province) – Centre / Wing, 2 Test caps
  • Lodewyk de Jager (Toyota FS Cheetahs) – Lock, 7 Test caps
  • Jean de Villiers (Captain, DHL Western Province) – Centre, 102 Test caps
  • Bismarck du Plessis (Cell C Sharks) – Hooker, 66 Test caps
  • Jannie du Plessis (Cell C Sharks) – Prop, 60 Test caps
  • Eben Etzebeth (DHL Western Province) – Lock, 29 Test caps
  • Johan Goosen (Racing Metro, France) – Fullback / Flyhalf, 5 Test caps
  • Bryan Habana (Toulon, France) – Wing, 103 Test caps
  • Cornal Hendricks (Toyota FS Cheetahs) – Wing, 9 Test caps
  • Francois Hougaard (Vodacom Blue Bulls) – Scrumhalf, 32 Test caps
  • Jaco Kriel (Xerox Golden Lions) – Loose forward, uncapped
  • Patrick Lambie (Cell C Sharks) – Flyhalf / Fullback, 36 Test caps
  • Willie le Roux (Toyota FS Cheetahs) – Fullback / Wing, 21 Test caps
  • Victor Matfield (Vodacom Blue Bulls) – Lock, 117 Test caps
  • Teboho “Oupa” Mohoje (Toyota FS Cheetahs) – Loose forward, 3 Test caps
  • Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks) – Prop, 61 Test caps
  • Lwazi Mvovo (Cell C Sharks) – Wing, 9 Test caps
  • Trevor Nyakane (Toyota FS Cheetahs) – Prop, 9 Test caps
  • Coenie Oosthuizen (Toyota FS Cheetahs) – Prop, 17 Test caps
  • Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N Ireland) – Scrumhalf, 80 Test caps
  • JP Pietersen (Panasonic, Japan) – Centre / Wing, 56 Test caps
  • Handré Pollard (Vodacom Blue Bulls) – Flyhalf, 6 Test caps
  • Julian Redelinghuys (Xerox Golden Lions) – Prop, uncapped
  • Cobus Reinach (Cell C Sharks) – Scrumhalf, 2 Test caps
  • Seabelo Senatla (SA Sevens / DHL WP) – Wing, uncapped
  • Jan Serfontein (Vodacom Blue Bulls) – Centre, 16 Test caps
  • Gurthrö Steenkamp (Toulouse, France) – Prop, 52 Test caps
  • Morné Steyn (Stade Francais, France) – Flyhalf, 59 Test caps
  • Adriaan Strauss (Toyota FS Cheetahs) – Hooker, 40 Test caps
  • Duane Vermeulen (DHL Western Province) – No 8, 25 Test caps
  • Warren Whiteley (Xerox Golden Lions) – Loose forward, 2 Test caps

18 Responses to End Of Year Tours: Springboks – 5 Deserved call-ups for newcomers

  • 1

    It’s a pity to still see Gurthro Steenkamp, Ruan Pienaar & Johan Goosen there.

    It was the ideal time to also blood Schalk van der Merwe, Golden Lions loosehead prop in place of Gutrho.
    Scrummie is a conundrum, but hell anybody is better than Ruan Pienaar.
    Johan Goosen, WTF… eish… now we have 4 flyhalfs… why?

  • 2

    Carr & Kriel – my year is made!

  • 3

    grootblousmile wrote:

    It’s a pity to still see Gurthro Steenkamp, Ruan Pienaar & Johan Goosen there.

    It was the ideal time to also blood Schalk van der Merwe, Golden Lions loosehead prop in place of Gutrho.
    Scrummie is a conundrum, but hell anybody is better than Ruan Pienaar.
    Johan Goosen, WTF… eish… now we have 4 flyhalfs… why?

    I heard Goose is now playing 15 and very similar to Willie le Roux style but with that huge boot as well, so he might be more cover for 15 than for 10
    Agree on scarecrow Gastro, time he goes

  • 4

    Guthro Steenkamp. Liewe jinne.

  • 5

    @ Gena_ZA:
    HM said that Goosen “has been playing most of his rugby at fullback” but if the media reports are correct Goosen has played 6 of his 8 games at 10, one at wing and ONE at fullback.

    I agree about Guthro – IMO he really does not add any value to the squad.

    It will be interesting to see where Coenie is used. As it is there are 3 specialist loosehead props in Beast, Trevor and Guthro as well as 2 specialist tightheads, Jannie and Julian. Does this mean that Coenie wil be used at 3 ?? I hope not…. because he is no tighthead prop IMO.

    I would really like to see Jaco and Nizaam get a run but there are 7 loosies in the squad. What are the odds that they will get game time ?

  • 6

    @ charlesm:

    Given quota requirements, & the fact that SA has good POC loosehead props, Bok loosehead prop is obviously a position that is reserved for players that aren’t white – hence the Bokke haven’t had a regular white loosehead prop for years, & hence even Lizo Gcoboka (given his encouraging form during the CC) was invited to the extended Bok training camp in S’bosch. Coenie (whose scrummaging is really not up to international standard) is thus only being considered as a tighthead starter (o me miserum!) or a reserve prop that can cover both loosehead & tighthead, but why would a coach require one of those now that 8 reserves are peremptory. This means that an exceptional loosehead like Schalk v/d Merwe has virtually no chance of going to RWC2015, irrespective of his performance.

    HM’s problem is that there are no obvious POC tightheads that are of international quality – one hopes this will soon change. HM really has no choice: he has to meet targets, & has to perform a delicate balancing act in order to do so.

    {The above purely imo, of course}

  • 7

    @ grootblousmile:No no, its M Steyn that shouldn’t be anywhere near the Bok jersey. Seriously, what is Morne Fucking Steyn still doing there?!
    Lambie, Pollard and Goosen are the future of SA rugby as has been quite evident this Rugby Championship.
    And then the selectors take a massive step back and select Steyn! The mind boggles.
    Gurthro and De Allende are the other WTFs.

  • 8

    @ Angostura:

    Perhaps if HM were to play Juan de Jongh at #13, or Nizaam Carr at #8 (with Thor at #7), he can then “balance his books” 🙂 and play Schalk van der Merwe at #1?

    Just a thought … dunno exactly what the quota requirements are

  • 9

    charlesm wrote:

    @ Gena_ZA:
    HM said that Goosen “has been playing most of his rugby at fullback” but if the media reports are correct Goosen has played 6 of his 8 games at 10, one at wing and ONE at fullback.

    I agree about Guthro – IMO he really does not add any value to the squad.

    It will be interesting to see where Coenie is used. As it is there are 3 specialist loosehead props in Beast, Trevor and Guthro as well as 2 specialist tightheads, Jannie and Julian. Does this mean that Coenie wil be used at 3 ?? I hope not…. because he is no tighthead prop IMO.

    I would really like to see Jaco and Nizaam get a run but there are 7 loosies in the squad. What are the odds that they will get game time ?

    Word is he is playing most of his rugby at 15 now that he is in Europe.
    Don’t think anyone is refuting the fact where he played for SA as it can’t be argued

  • 10

    I am not even commenting on Morne Steyn….

  • 11

    Gday all…..

    Been unable to log in via my webbrowser but I see my mobile access is working.

    Congratulations to the new Boks. All very much deserved. I hope that they will get some decent game time.

  • 12

    11 @ Stormersboy:
    Try Firefox… download it and Install it.. and Login!

  • 13

    @ grootblousmile:Will give it a try than ks

  • 14

    I see that IE works, but not Firefox, so will use that from now on.

  • 15

    It’s getting crowded there lately?
    😉
    Maybe a 17 a side variant of rugby should be evolved?

  • 16

    @ Hondo:

    If anyone should evolve it’s you.

    😆

  • 17

    Well done pal.And thanksfor your help.

  • 18

    Gena_ZA wrote:

    Carr & Kriel – my year is made!

    Agreed

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