The South African Springboks squad, to take on the world’s best in England, at the 2015 Rugby World Cup was officially announced at 18:00 SA Time (16:00 GMT), live on SuperSport 1 on TV in South Africa.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer is on a hiding to nothing, no matter which squad he would have selected, whether it be from lobbyists saying that there are not enough players of colour in the side OR whether he is accused of player bias OR choosing old favourites… OR not choosing players on merit.
I urge everybody to accept his selection prerogatives, even though you or me would have done it differently, and to get behind this Springbok side for the Rugby World Cup, where they will be representing their country to the best of their abilities.
The “Ghost Squad” has already been discussed ad-nauseam, the announced squad is exactly the same and feature the inclusion of fringe players like Zane Kirchner, Rudy Paige, Siya Kolisi and Morné Steyn.
Injured or previously injured players like Fourie du Preez, Jean de Villiers, Duane Vermeulen, Coenie Oosthuizen, Jannie du Plessis is also be included in the squad.
A number of players are hugely unlucky not to be selected, they include Heinrich Brüssow, Steven Kitshoff, Marcel van der Merwe, Vincent Koch, Marcell Coetzee, Jan Serfontein, Frans Steyn, Cornal Hendricks, Cobus Reinach and Francois Hougaard.
Here is the Springbok Rugby World Cup squad for 2015, which is now official:
Springbok Rugby World Cup Squad:
Backs:
- Fullbacks: Willie le Roux
- Utility: Zane Kirchner
- Wings: Bryan Habana, Lwazi Mvovo, JP Pietersen
- Centres: Jean de Villiers (Captain), Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel
- Flyhalves: Pat Lambie, Handré Pollard, Morné Steyn
- Scrumhalves: Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez, Rudy Paige
Fowards:
- Loose Forwards: Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger, Willem Alberts, Francois Louw, Siya Kolisi
- Locks: Eben Etzebeth, Victor Matfield (Vice-Captain), Lood de Jager
- Utility Lock & Loose Forward: Pieter-Steph du Toit
- Props: Beast Mtawarira, Jannie du Plessis, Trevor Nyakane, Frans Malherbe, Coenie Oosthuizen
- Hookers: Bismarck du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Schalk Brits
Terwyl die Currie Cup game aan is kan die moangatte, wat GAAN MOAN oor die squad, maar hulle moans en grouns inkry.
58 @ grootblousmile:
Ahh ok thought there was a player name missing
On the Springbok squad:
Many of the names in this announcement are largely irrelevant as they will play little or no part in the tournament. Paige, Kirschner, JPP, even Steyn. If someone is injured they will fly someone else up anyway, a mere 12 hour journey away.
The most important question is, are all the correct semi finalist 23 there, and the answer is yes.
The rest are either there to fill up quotas or to provide versatile cover in an emergency….
63 @ Stormersboy:
Unfortunately there will be factions who want representation in the ultimate starting 15 and / or in the matchday 23, when the bigger games arrive…
Well the target is 30% if I read correctly, so we can have Beast, Bryan, Mvovo and on the bench Kolisi, Trevor, JPP so that would be ok?
Even Zayne
65 @ Stormersboy:
If it is 30% they want, it’ll have to be 7 out of a match-day 23.
Fark, why am I even thinking of a numbers game… it is just not right… on any scale of normality!
@ grootblousmile:
Yes it sucks. On the one hand they say no quotas, but on the other hand (Darren) we all know how those phone calls can come in the middle of the night….
“No “abnomal” sport in a “normal” soiety.”
Finish en klaar.
Not negotiable.
Stormersboy wrote:
A player flown in as a replacement can certainly not be selected ahead of a fit player originally selected in the same position.. eg…. If Fourie du Preez gets injured they cannot fly Reinach in and play him ahead of Paige.
Is Peter de Villiers now happy and will he support this team?
This is what he had to say before the squad’s announcement:
“We are treated like stupids because we are black,” he said. “This is the sport that has the ability to build our nation and Saru is using it to break us down.
“I was not good enough to be coach, but I [won the Tri-Nations and beat the Lions in 2009]. That they forget so easily.
“I will never support another team, but I cannot support our current team.”
(IOLSportNews)
I think that GBS made the right call in asking all of us to support this squad no matter what.
I have my thoughts and opinions on how the squad is selected and also about the integrity and honesty of the people who run SARU but this is not the time to throw them out there.
Congratulations to all of the players and staff.
My only concern surrounds the selection of injured players.
The tournament rules do not allow for the replacement of a player who is already injured when the tournament starts.
Potentially that could back fire on the squad, so let us hope for the best.
Assuming all are fully recovered from injury, fit and match ready for a contest with the world’s best, and remain so for the tournament’s duration (which I doubt), this would be my 1st choice match day squad:
1. Trevor Nyakane
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Jannie du Plessis
4. Eben Etsebeth
5. Victor Matfield
6. Francois Louw
7. Willem Alberts
8. Duane Vermeulen
9. Fourie du Preez
10. Pat Lambie
11. Lwazi Mvovo
12. Damian de Allende
13. Jean de Villiers
14. Bryan Habana
15. Willie le Roux
16. Tendai Mtawarira
17. Adriaan Strauss
18. Frans Malherbe
19. Pieter-Steph du Toit
20. Siya Kolisi
21. Rudy Paige
22. Handré Pollard
23. Jesse Kriel
Schalk Burger, Lood de Jager, Ruan Pienaar & Zane Kirchner are arguably unlucky to miss out. A proper (suitable like-for-like) substitute for the openside flank is the glaring weakness, but that was already apparent when the WC squad was announced.
88
And, yes, if HM’s WC squad meets the 30% requirement, then this match day squad likewise meets the 30% requirement.
Draw your own conclusions …
88
Best of luck HM, Jean & the rest of the Bokke & support staff! An (almost) whole nation’s best wishes, hopes & dreams accompany you.
@ Scrumdown:
! 
@71 True that, well said!
Time for all of us supporters to start turning into green mode
People mustn’t misinterpret debate as non support.
I have a problem when it’s automatically assumed that anyone questioning the coach or this squad is seen as negative and anti Bok.
Please explain to me, via a proper argument, how this is the best 31 players we have in the country.
The team hasn’t won even one match in the RC, but we must hear how good they are.
If Paige was the 3rd best nr 9 in the country I find it strange that he is still uncapped, as one example.
It seems like arguing the merits of selections and coaches is tolerated only in some instances, but in others it’s more a case of “shut up” and just blindly follow the other blind.
Good luck to those chosen, but in no way do I believe that this is the best squad of players we have, and selecting a bunch of players who are carrying injuries and haven’t seen a ball in months is not the wisest choice IMO.
I’m sure I will be branded as negative and called many names, so be it, but hey, I don’t have faith in the coach and I also don’t have a lot of faith in these players selected for my own reasons.
They might prove me wrong and go all the way, I would be very happy in that case, as I’m sure would most SA citizens, but I’m not holding my breath
@ nortie:
But nortie your not debating you are only trolling.
Is this the best 31? Probably not, is the 31 selected vastly diffirent from most selections i think no
You know nvm, i wont be drawn into a pitty party.
Bad luck to those guys that miss out as is often and always the case with squad announcements. Good luck to those selected!
@ nortie:
@ MacroPolo:
Ou toppies in die span n bekommernis, vir my…en dit het niks met politiek te doen nie!
32 jarige kaptein en 38 jarige vise-kaptein? As jy hulle ouderdomme bymekaarsit is hulle amper so oud soos ek
@ MacroPolo:
Wie is #7 flank, PSduT? Ek sien Angustora vra ook….oopkant seker net Kolisi of Flow?Dit gaan maar lol teen Ozzies en Engelse…
There aren’t quotas there are targets.
In the same way that eskom said and sanralhave tatgets.
@ Pietman:
In my opinie moet ons alberts vinnig op spoed bring.
@ MacroPolo:
Alberts is deesdae ietwat ”injury prone”….Heyneke sal hom moet “nurse” tot ons die uitspeelgedeelte haal.
Ek verwag n paar noodvlugte na die VK hierdie keer, heelwat ou bene daar wat dit dalk nie mag maak op die swaar velde nie.
The manner in which a few of the Boks had to hold on to the rails while waling down the stairs at the team announcement ceremony last night was not a good sight.
So, hopelik het Heyneke n bystandlys met Hougie, Carr, Kriel, Brussouw, Mapoe, Kitshof, Lappies, Franco, Scarra en Wiid wat op gereedheidsgrondslag is.
@ Pietman:
Scarra en Koch….nie Wiid, jammer.
@ robzim:
Yoh, moenie spot nie gehoor…jy gaan ook oud word nog!
Vra vir GBS, as man by 50 verby gaan is dit so goed jy hol afdraende by Suikerbossie in die Two Oceans met die wind van agter, dit gaan vinnig my broer!
Best summing up of the group as seen on Rugby365
Pensioners, patients, pals and Paige
85 @ Pietman:
Ek trap nog water op 50… nog nie daar verby nie…. maar op 8 September kom die groot kak, want dan slaan ek die 51 merkie!
74 @ nortie:
86 @ nortie:
nortie wrote:
Klomp “P”s daar…ok maar goed Bolla is nie meer in die mix nie…!
grootblousmile wrote:
Ai tog…en die vroutjie is juis nog so jonk en ligvoet…sal maar terre vorentoe bruvva
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