The Springboks will travel to the Northern Hemisphere next weekend with five uncapped players but without their all-time leading try-scorer and most experienced player, Bryan Habana.
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Habana was the latest key player to be added to a long injury list when he sustained a knee injury in Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup final. Scans on Sunday confirmed he will miss the tour of Ireland, Scotland and England.
South Africa Under-20 winger Raymond Rhule, who was part of the squad that won the IRB Junior World Championship in Cape Town earlier this year and who has shone for the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in the Absa Currie Cup, was named in the squad along with uncapped Jano Vermaak, Franco van der Merwe, Lionel Mapoe and Arno Botha. Of the five, only the 19-year-old Rhule has not been part of a Springbok squad yet this year, but his inclusion forms part of Meyer’s plan to blood promising youngster for the future.
Rhule is one of five wing options with the fit-again JP Pietersen, Francois Hougaard, Lwazi Mvovo and Mapoe. Pietersen, Rhule and Mapoe can also be used at centre, while Hougaard can also play at scrumhalf.
Two Springboks currently based in Europe, Schalk Brits (hooker) and Gurthrö Steenkamp (loosehead prop), have also been recalled to the national squad, bringing the European based contingent to 4 players in the squad. Due to the significant injury toll, the national selectors will only decide on a 32nd player to be added to the squad at a later stage.
Two Springboks who missed the entire Castle Rugby Championship because of injury, JP Pietersen and Chiliboy Ralepelle, are back in the squad.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, whose squad assembles in Cape Town on Wednesday, said it was not easy to select the squad in the light of the high number of players unavailable due to injury.
Injured players that had been part of the Springbok squad thus far this year, but were not considered for selection, are Coenie Oosthuizen, Bismarck du Plessis, Tiaan Liebenberg, Andries Bekker, Siya Kolisi, Jacques Potgieter, Pierre Spies, Johan Goosen, Frans Steyn and Bryan Habana. In addition Springboks Schalk Burger, Juan Smith and Heinrich Brüssow are still out injured.
“We’ve got a settled core of players that did the job during the England series and The Castle Rugby Championship and we decided to stick with them,” said Meyer.
“Obviously losing so many players to injury, the latest being Coenie, Tiaan, Andries, Jacques and Bryan during the Absa Currie Cup, makes it difficult, but this now provides opportunities for other players.
“Gurthrö and Schalk are experienced front rankers who have played for South Africa before and know the conditions in the Northern Hemisphere. This tour provides a good opportunity to assess them as we plan ahead. Arno, Lionel, Franco and Jano have all been part of our squad earlier in the season.
“Raymond put up his hand for the Junior Boks and the Cheetahs and I’m very excited to see what he can do. It’s also great to have JP and Chiliboy back from injury as they bring a lot of experience to the squad.”
Meyer said he expected three extremely difficult Tests: “Although the Springboks won on their last visit to Dublin (in 2010), they lost three in a row before that,” he said.
“In 2010, we lost to Scotland in Edinburgh. They beat the Wallabies in Australia earlier in the year, so it won’t be easy there.
“And in June we’ve experienced first-hand how difficult and opponent England are. They will be fired up at Twickenham and it will be a challenging Test to end the tour with.
“Our aim is to end the season on a positive note. We set ourselves high standards and we want to improve with every Test, but we have a team that is still gaining valuable experience as we strive to constantly be amongst the top sides in the world. We know we’re not there yet, but we’ve laid a foundation in the first nine Tests this year and we will build on that.
“The Rugby World Cup in 2015 also takes place in England, so we will use this tour to see how our players adapt to the conditions as we look ahead to that very important tournament.”
The Springbok squad will assemble in Cape Town on Wednesday and depart to the UK from Johannesburg on Saturday. They will return to South Africa on Monday, 26 November.
The Springbok squad for the Castle Outgoing Tour to Ireland, Scotland and England:
Forwards:
Willem Alberts (The Sharks) Loose forward – 17 Tests
Arno Botha (Vodacom Blue Bulls) Loose forward – 0 Tests
Schalk Brits (Saracens, England) Hooker – 3 Tests
Pat Cilliers (MTN Golden Lions) Prop – 3 Tests
Marcell Coetzee (The Sharks) Loose forward – 9 Tests
Jannie du Plessis (The Sharks) Prop – 39 Tests
Eben Etzebeth (DHL Western Province) Lock – 8 Tests
Juandré Kruger (Vodacom Blue Bulls) Lock – 5 Tests
Francois Louw (Bath, England) Loose forward – 14 Tests
Tendai Mtawarira (The Sharks) Prop – 41 Tests
Chiliboy Ralepelle (Vodacom Blue Bulls) Hooker – 21 Tests
Gurthrö Steenkamp (Toulouse, France) Prop – 38 Tests
Adriaan Strauss (Toyota FS Cheetahs) Hooker – 18 Tests
CJ van der Linde (MTN Golden Lions) Prop – 73 Tests
Flip van der Merwe (Vodacom Blue Bulls) Lock – 20 Tests
Franco van der Merwe (MTN Golden Lions) Lock – 0 Tests
Duane Vermeulen (DHL Western Province) No 8 – 4 Tests
Backs:
Juan de Jongh (DHL Western Province) Centre – 12 Tests
Jean de Villiers (Captain and DHL Western Province) Centre – 81 Tests
Francois Hougaard (Vodacom Blue Bulls) Scrumhalf / Wing – 24 Tests
Elton Jantjies (MTN Golden Lions) Flyhalf – 2 Tests
Zane Kirchner (Vodacom Blue Bulls) Fullback – 21 Tests
Pat Lambie (The Sharks) Fullback – 17 Tests
Lionel Mapoe (MTN Golden Lions) Wing / Centre – 0 Tests
Lwazi Mvovo (The Sharks) Wing – 7 Tests
Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N Ireland) Scrumhalf – 60 Tests
JP Pietersen (The Sharks) Wing / Centre – 45 Tests
Raymond Rhule (Toyota FS Cheetahs) Wing – 0 Tests
Morné Steyn (Vodacom Blue Bulls) Flyhalf – 41 Tests
Jaco Taute (MTN Golden Lions) Utility back – 2 Tests
Jano Vermaak (Vodacom Blue Bulls) Scrumhalf – 0 Tests
Dink Rhule is nog bietjie te groen. Ek sou eerder gegaan het vir daardie heelagter van Griekwas, kan nie nousy naam onthou nie. Hy het darem super rugby ervaring.
Gurthro Steenkamp het goed gelyk in die laaste twee games wat ek gesien het van hom.
Die res van span lyk goed vir my.
What does the South African rugby public have to do to convince Mr Meyer that Lambie is a beter flyhalf than both Jantjies or Steyn. is he now opicked as full back to warm the bench for 3 games overseas.Is this a personal vendetta on the part of Meyer or is he trying to have Lambie leave south Africa and play for the opposition.
1 @ leon:
Jy bedoel Willie le Roux
Like I said on the other thread. Hope Meyer has guts to start with Rhule on wing. One is never too young if they have the talent. Rhule and JPP on the wings would be damn frightening for the opposition. Hougie is a impact player and should be used from the bench.
No Deon Viljoen either. Thought he may get a call up. Feel for Keegan being totally dropped, then like I mentioned on the other thread. Rather have Keegan home and getting rest for the Sharks Super15 next year. The less Sharks in the Bok squad probably the better as we will have less injuries come Feb.
Meyer should have had the guts to select more youngsters for this tour. So many putting their hands up now.
2 @ shenzi:
Welcome to Rugby-Talk… hope you enjoy it here
Also JdJ should start at outside centre and NOT Taute.
Schalk Brits? ROTFLMFAO, but the Burden showed his class yesterday.
I think Heyneke Meyer was bold in selecting Raymond Rhule as well as calling up Gurtro Steenkamp and even Schalk Brits.
Some players will always be unlucky to miss out, Deon Fourie of WP probably the unluckiest one of the lot… that said the Bokke now have a settled loose trio.
Another 2 players unlucly to miss out in my opinion is Paul Jordaan and Louis Ludik of the Sharks.
2 @ shenzi:
I feel the same buddy. I am the most outspoken about that. It absolutely annoyed me that he left Lambie on the bench for almost 2 months. Then we see just how bloody brilliant he is when he played fh in CC. Seems he will warm the bench again for FB. Lambie is a flyhalf and a world class flyhalf at that. Inside centre and Fullback he is very good there but it is at flyhalf that he excels. He is our best we have right now but he wont get selected. Not under Meyer.
Great to see Rhule in. Would have liked to see Scarra carrying the tackle bag as well, but for the rest, only to be expected – in some cases, unfortunately. The Ostrich not only has his head in the sand, but his whole body too. The only bit sticking out of the ground now is his backside, and thats only because he needs to show Lambie a big fat ‘Brown Eye”.
@ grootblousmile:
Yes, dis hy.
8 @ grootblousmile:
It was NO brainer gbs. If Rhule was a Aussie or Kiwi he would have been selected for their squad as well. He is damn awesome on the wing. You can’t ignore that sort of talent. Rhule and JPP on the wing will send bloody shivers down the spine of the oppostion.
Meyer should have taken more youngsters that have put their hands up. This is when you take the youngsters that have truly stood out in CC or Super15. Here is where you give them a chance.
I don’t know why you guys are upset about Lambie… he is IN the squad!
10 @ Just For Kicks:
Absolutely. Instead of Brits I would have given Scarra a chance. He has impressed me a lot this CC. He was very good last night.
12 @ Puma:
Which other youngtsers and in place of whom?
Quite a few youngsters in the squad already… 5 players with no Bok caps.
13 @ grootblousmile:
We know he is in the squad. So is MORNE!!!! Does that not tell you who Meyer will start at fh? Morne is yesterdays news boeta. We must move on to the new exciting players now. The younger players. Now was the time to have taken Lambie and Jantjies to play fh and fh only. Ludik and Taute to battle it out for FB. JdJ and probably Jordaan for outside centre. He has Mapoe there so fine it could be JdJ and Mapoe then to fight it out for that position. Right now I would give it to JdJ to start there. Taute was just terrible there in the RC.
14 @ Puma:
I suppose Schalk Brits is in because of his knowledge of the Northern Hemisphere conditions and players…
I’m no Schalk Brits fan… but to an extent I understand his selection.
Scarra will get his chance, he is a bright prospect for the future!
I find it amazing that we should give Ostrich credit for sticking his neck out and selecting Rhule. What is this, Kindergarten, where we must give the last placed kid in a wheel chair a medal for trying in the 3 legged sack race? Fark man, it is his job to select the best talent in the country. Any, and every selector would have selected him, and as Puma says, he would have also walked into any international squad.
15 @ grootblousmile:
I know Reinach had a bad game yesterday. But come on he has been brilliant for the WHOLE of the Currie Cup. He should have been taken too. NOT to start but to get with the Bok culture. Groom was also good. Ludik has been our best fullback too. And there we see Zane’s name AGAIN. Ag, gonna give worrying about if we will win or not with the Boks.
16 @ Puma:
Yip, maybe it was time to leave Morné Steyn out in total…. but that is 1 player in 31.
Zane Kirchner did not do badly in Super Rugby and Tests this year, so some would have picked Ludik and some Kirchner…. maybe a 50 / 50 call there.
I suppose there simply HAS TO BE a fine balance between experienced players and upcoming talent.
But hey… let’s see what happens.
17 @ grootblousmile:
I also know why he selected Brits. Because of him playing well over there and yes, knowing the conditions. However, I still would have selected Scarra over him. Even if it means we lose. WE have to now blood our future Boks. This is the time, right now not next year. Even if Scarra went for the Bok culture as well. We have Chiliboy who will probably cover Strauss.
19 @ Puma:
Reinach is a future prospect… but he was woeful yesterday
20 @ grootblousmile:
Look I know it is harsh going on about Zane because yes, he never played badly, but that is it. Just solid nothing more. Taute or Ludik should be getting a start there. Older players keeping the younger players out is not right.
Not even sure if Jean de Villiers should be on this tour either. Province sure as heck never missed him not one little bit AT ALL. I do know we need a captain though, but there could be another captain for this tour. Alberts? He was a very good captain for Lions at one stage. JdV is 31 now. Once Fransie is back is Jean gonna keep on playing outside centre? We have some brilliant outside centres playing there. Mapoe, Jordaan and JdJ.
22 @ grootblousmile:
Yes because he is young, that will happen. But he was mostly terrific this CC. Will need a Super15 tourney behind him next year. I think he is a magnificent prospect. Let us down yesterday I know. But hell he is young boet. Felt for him, Plum should have taken him off. For the eoyt he could just have carried tackle bags, get him in the mix with the culture of the Boks now. He will be a Bok I have no doubt, but now is the time.
23 @ Puma:
There was just no way Heyneke would or could drop Jean de Villiers, the Captain this year.
I would not have selected Jean de Villiers either, rather opting for Paul Jordaan to do centre duty with Juan de Jongh (inside centre).
Would have made Adriaan Strauss the captain.
@ Loosehead:
I also wondered why Burden wasn’t included, but then I rememberd yesterday’s game.
Look, we will always disagree with some selections… we even differ between ourselves who should and who should not be there.
I would like to see players like Scarra Ntubeni and Cobus Reinach first play some stellar Super Rugby and shine on the International stage of Super Rugby… then make the squad on merit for the June Tests next year.
2 @ shenzi:
Lambie will never be able to play for aonther country. He has represented South Africa. He has Bok Colours so that means he can never do that now. He can move overseas to play club rugby there and I hope not, he has too much to offer us here still.
Grootblousmile- thank you for you welcome
I hope I will be able to contribute some meaningful comments-just forgive me sometimes. I last played in 1964.
26 @ leon:
We really can’t blame Burden too much yesterday. You have to remember he has not played as well for 2 months. He has been a Bok tourist. Meyer should have left him here and never selected him. He was in great form before he had to leave and tour with the Boks. No game time, you just can’t really play to your best. Plum should have selected Cooper to start. Or taken Burden off when he was having such a bad game.
Saying that Lambie sat on the bench for 8 weeks and that never seemed to bother him. He had a blinder in all his 3 games back for Sharks. Still not many can do that with no game time.
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