Nine uncapped players have been included in the Springbok squad of 32 for the Castle Incoming Tour against England, named on Saturday in Pretoria by SARU CEO Jurie Roux and Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
The nine uncapped players are Marcell Coetzee, JJ Engelbrecht, Eben Etzebeth, Elton Jantjies, Juandré Kruger, Coenie Oosthuizen, Jacques Potgieter, Franco van der Merwe and Jano Vermaak.
Jantjies and Oosthuizen have toured with the Springboks before, at the end of the season in 2010, while Van der Merwe and Vermaak have previously played for the Emerging Springboks.
Meyer and the national selectors, Peter Jooste and Ian McIntosh, were unanimous when it came to finalising the squad. They have also recalled 15 members of the Rugby World Cup 2011 squad, while there are nine Rugby World Cup winners from 2007 left in the squad.
The most experienced player in the squad is South Africa’s foremost test try scorer Bryan Habana, with 74 caps. Six more players have played in excess of 40 tests for South Africa.
“We were always looking to start the season with an experienced squad to face England, but injuries to certain players and the non-availability of others have made it difficult,” said Meyer.
“What we‘ve lost in experience, we’ve made up in passion and desire to play for the Springboks.
“We have put together a squad with a nice balance between a number of veterans and players with less experience as we start to build for the rest of the season.
“Working with these players during our four Planning Camps this season has been great and really made a very difficult selection process a bit easier. There were a few unlucky players that didn’t make it and they will get opportunities in future as long as they keep on knocking on the door.
“The nine uncapped players have all put up their hands during Vodacom Super Rugby this year and we know they have what it takes to succeed at the highest level.
“We realise that it is impossible to please everyone when it comes to selecting squads like these, but we would really like to see the entire country stand behind us as we take on England.”
Furthermore, six promising players have been added to the Springbok squad for the next three weeks. They are not eligible for selection but will train with the squad in Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth.
The six upcoming players that will join the Bok squad are Siya Kolisi (flank), Arno Botha (No 8), Frans Malherbe (prop), CJ Stander (loose forward), Francois Venter (centre) and Piet van Zyl (scrumhalf).
Meyer said: “We feel that these players have what it takes to play for the Springboks and they were close to selection in the final squad. However, these three weeks provide the ideal opportunity to work with them, show them what the Springbok culture is all about and hopefully put them on the right track to play for South Africa sooner rather than later. By doing this now, we will reap the dividends going forward.
“We also rate a number of great players in the South African Under-20 squad, but they were not considered at this stage due to the fact that they are playing in a very important Junior World Championship.”
The Springbok squad is:
| Name
Willem Alberts Bjorn Basson Marcell Coetzee Keegan Daniel Jean de Villiers Bismarck du Plessis Jannie du Plessis JJ Engelbrecht Eben Etzebeth Bryan Habana Francois Hougaard Elton Jantjies Ryan Kankowski Zane Kirchner Juandré Kruger Werner Kruger Patrick Lambie Tendai Mtawarira Lwazi Mvovo Wynand Olivier Coenie Oosthuizen Ruan Pienaar JP Pietersen Jacques Potgieter Chiliboy Ralepelle Pierre Spies Frans Steyn Morné Steyn Adriaan Strauss Flip van der Merwe Franco van der Merwe Jano Vermaak |
Province
The Sharks Vodacom Blue Bulls The Sharks The Sharks DHL Western Province The Sharks The Sharks Vodacom Blue Bulls DHL Western Province DHL Western Province Vodacom Blue Bulls MTN Golden Lions The Sharks Vodacom Blue Bulls Vodacom Blue Bulls Vodacom Blue Bulls The Sharks The Sharks The Sharks Vodacom Blue Bulls Toyota FS Cheetahs Ulster, Ireland The Sharks Vodacom Blue Bulls Vodacom Blue Bulls Vodacom Blue Bulls The Sharks Vodacom Blue Bulls Toyota FS Cheetahs Vodacom Blue Bulls MTN Golden Lions Vodacom Blue Bulls |
Position
Loose forward Wing Loose forward Loose forward Centre Hooker Prop Centre / Wing Lock Wing Scrumhalf Flyhalf No 8 Fullback Lock Prop Flyhalf / Fullback Prop Wing Centre Prop Scrumhalf Wing Loose forward Hooker No 8 Centre Flyhalf Hooker Lock Lock Scrumhalf |
Test caps
9 6 0 1 72 42 30 0 0 74 15 0 19 14 0 2 11 32 4 34 0 51 42 0 21 47 47 34 9 11 0 0 |
No Lions players, Bulls – 12, Sharks – 10, Stormers – 3, Lions – 2, Cheetahs – 2 and Ruan Pienaar.
Jano Vermaak? Wynand Olivier? JJ Engelbrecht? Dis ‘n Heyneke-span … whatever … 🙁
@ kwaailight:You can see the HM is just so desperate to win, he is going back to what he knows, and that is his team, but agree with your names, would add Kirchner to that list too!
Very much as we expected.
Go Bokke.
Hierdie span laat my dink aan 1998. Bulle wen die CB daardie jaar teen ‘n sterbelaaide WP span .. maar het net 4 bokke in die groep. Mallet, die WP man was die bokafrigter en 12 WP manne is gekies, tog was die bokke goed.
Dalk is dit nou Bulle pay back time ? 😉
@Just For Kicks – I made a vow after Bryce Lawrence’s unbelievable performance, that I would not watch any IRB-level rugby until that body takes overt, public action to keep referees accountable. They have not done anything. Heyneke’s ridiculous selections in some positions have made it easier for me to stick to my word.
I’ll be mowing the lawn (or doing something else productive) while his team plays!
So NO Fourie du Preez. Who will captain then? That is a surprise. Or is that a exception? When FdP arrives back home? Time will tell. So who is the captain? I have a feeling believe it or not it will be Bissie. Said it before and stick with it, I think that he will be.
OR very possible could it be A. Struass or even Jean dV from Stormers? Just have to wait and see. Need to stick around and wait and see…….hehehe. Like a thriller? You just never know……hahahaha.
See you all tomorrow or during the week.
@ Puma:Will definitely be JdV
@ kwaailight:If there’s a load of extra time added on, could you do my lawn as well?
@ Just For Kicks:
hehehehe … no way … the point of the action (idealistic I know) is that if everyone did it, they would have to respond … so I cannot help you … sorry!
10@ kwaailight: Dang, oh well, I’ll just have to flog the wife back into action again, then!
JDV behoort kaptein te wees, hy wou nog altyd ‘n bokspan (in pienk?) gelei het, nou kry hy sy kans.
g’night guys … gonna watch some old TV-series now … hehehe
Nou verstaan ek hoe alles werk:
Stormers is in die beste posisie om die super15 nog te wen, so moenie te veel van hul spelers as bokke kies nie, laat hulle uitrus vir die pylvak.
Die Sharks en Bulle moet daarom die 3 toetse speel en hopelik wen.
Maar om eerlik te wees, wat ek vandag gesien het van die Sharks en Pienk bokke, het ek nie veel hoop vir die 3 toetse wat wag nie.
HM is in vir ‘n baie moeilike tyd, en alles het begin toe hy besluit het om weer bok afrigter te word, nadat hy 4 jaar gelede besluit het, nooit weer nie – van daar af is dinge besig om uit te rafel vir die Bulle, en ons sal nou sien wat die gevolge gaan wees vir die Bokke.
Interessante tye wat voorlê.
8@ Just For Kicks:
It could be unless Meyer is waiting on FdP. OR wait for it……. I have had a feeling for a long time now that it could be Bisse????? Don’t be surprised if it is. I no he can cost us penalties but given the captaincy that just may prove a genious from Meyer. I turely think if Bissie is handed the captaincy he will be totally disciplined. Probably our best hooker but needs to keep the discipline.
OR could I be wrong????? Like a suspense novel????????????????????? hehehehehe. We are kept waiting!!
15@ Puma:
I no – should read – I know.
15@ Puma:
Jees, should go to bed now……….hahaha.
Meant genius
Hi guys, its been a long time but everybody seems to be doing well and retaining their character.
Squad – what squad?
No Jacque Fourie, No Juan de Jongh instead Wynand Olivier? No Willem Alberts, no Heinrich Brussow, instead Kankowski, Keenan Daniel, Potgieter, Spies and Marcel Coetzee all similar players? Don’t know I am not comfortable with loose trio mix. Who will be in the test team? Coetzee, Potgieter and Spies? Why am I feeling we are going to loose the series in the midfield breakdowns?
Engeland is kak
Huge compliment for the Stormers this: they top the conference with obviously mediocre players according to HM.
Then the fetching will be done by Birthmark and Breker Oosthuizen I presume?
Anybody got any idea how you can play 12 for so long without being able to pass the ball backwards and then get rewarded with a possible Bok captaincy? Answers on a postcard to JdV please… 😉
Jeez, did you guys see the hysterics on Keo (or is it keocaine)? 🙂
There some interesting selections – I think WO is there because of his Bok experience, same probably with Kanko. Kolisie will probably not fit in the current game plan.
I think we will probably end with Sharks front row – Bulls second row (with Etzebeth coming of the bench). Loosies – prob Spies (again experience) and Alberts. Not sure about the other spot. Hougie & Morne. centres JdV (experience) and ? (maybe JP). Wings prob Habanna and Mvovo. Lambie. So about 4 starting positions that did not play in the RWC.
It probably depends on the game plan – a lot of kick and chase – so then you want Basson in there.
It is though F@$%&* ridicules that HM only have 4 days to prepare for the first test. I am sure he and Rassie have done some good research on the Poms. They are very keen to win in SA.
Ek dink die Stormers ondersteunders hoef nie te veel te worry nie.
Kom ons wees eerlik, ek dink as Burger, Vermeulen, Bekker, Kitshoff en Peterson beskikbaar was hulle ook gekies sou geword het.
Om die waarheid te se, ek sien dit as ‘n effe van ‘n bedekte seen.
Is egter baie verbaas dat Kolisi en Aplon nie gekies is nie.
De Jongh, wel… ek dink die Stormers se algehele impotensie op aanval het nie rerig sy saak baie gehelp nie.
All in all, I don’t read TOO much into this selection due to two things:
Player availability and time to prepare for the tests.
If I were the coach, I would probably go and say, who are my most solid combinations, and then pick them… just cause it’s easier for the players to slot in that way.
24@ Greenpoint-Gunner:
GG,
You are totally correct, had Burger, Vermeulen, Bekker and Kitshoff not been injured and Kitshoff off with the Baby Boks, then I have no doubt they would have been selected for the Boks. Somehow not so sure about Joe as well as he has been playing, think Meyer was always going to go for Lambie and Zane for fb for the England tests.
Anyhow now your Stormers have a damn good chance of winning the S15 no worries of injuries and players will be rested well. While the Bulls and Sharks players are hammering it out in the tests. We all could have injuries by the end of this test series and the Sharks players might just be out on their feet by then. We have not had our 2nd bye yet, where Bulls and Stormers have had thiers weeks back. We only get ours at the end of the Test series. So my theory is that Stormers are the only saffa team now with a realistic chance of winning the S15. Go for it Stormers we all behind your team now. Really hope a saffa team wins this. Only hope for all of us is Stormers could win it. Good luck.
If HM believes this is the best team, then I will respect his decision. Couldn’t care less what jersey a player wear when playing for his club…they will all wear the green and gold for SA. Not sure why he droppe Brussow though….really weird
@ Just For Kicks:
I count a lot more than 2 Free Staters in there :}
@ bos_otter:
26
Ek lees die daaroor
In another surprise Meyer also failed to pick Heinrich Brüssow, who is widely considered one of the best openside flankers in the world, because changes to the rule interpretations are resulting in more penalties at the breakdown against his type of player.
“That was a tough call because Heinrich is still up with the best opensides in the game, but the game has changed. They’re being penalized more and hookers are stealing more ball now.
“If the laws change, which they will, then he’ll definitely be in the mix. But at the moment it’s up to him to adapt to the laws.”
Nou vra ek maar net wat doen BduP dan daar , hy staan baie meer strafskoppe af
Not bad….but not great….some confusing selections. Kanko, JJ Engelbrecht, Brian Habana on the wing!!, Meisiekind, JP on the wing, 3 hookers and centre is a problem??. Glad to see Etsebet get the nod, also Jano Vermaak and esp young Potgieter from the Bulls…..what about Juan de Jongh how can they leave him out…what about Schalk..is he injured?…..I see weakness on the wing (backup).
1@ Just For Kicks:
Actually 2 LIONS PLAYERS, but there shouldn’t be any.
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