Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has revealed that he will never omit Bulls captain Pierre Spies from his squad.
No 8 Spies, who has been criticized in some quarters for his performances over the past year, was on Tuesday included in a 36-man Springbok training group named ahead of the Incoming Test Series against Italy, Samoa and Scotland in June.
Meyer told the ArenaSport website that Spies is probably the most important member of his squad.
“This group is by no means a final one for the June Tests and could still change in the coming months, but what I can commit to is that Pierre Spies will always be a part of the Springbok setup, certainly as long as I’m in charge.
“You have to understand that we need Pierre. There is no one else quite like him in South African rugby. No one in any of the other local franchises can do what he does.
“Those big muscles, those strong arms, those thick, immense thighs. They are all a necessary cog in the Bok wheel,” said Meyer.
The first of two planned national training camps will be held in Cape Town from 14 to 16 April. The three-day camp will start on Sunday, the day after the Super Rugby derby between the Stormers and the Sharks, and conclude next Tuesday.
No Kings players were considered for the first training camp. They return from their Australasian tour this weekend and will be in contention for the second planned training camp, at the end of May in Durban.
Players invited to the first Springbok training camp of 2013:
Forwards: Tendai Mtawarira, Jannie du Plessis, Frans Malherbe, Coenie Oosthuizen, Pat Cilliers, Adriaan Strauss, Bismarck du Plessis, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Eben Etzebeth, Flip van der Merwe, Juandré Kruger, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Franco van der Merwe, Siya Kolisi, Marcell Coetzee, Willem Alberts, Arno Botha, Duane Vermeulen, Pierre Spies, Ryan Kankowski.
Backs: Jano Vermaak, Francois Hougaard, Pat Lambie, Morné Steyn, Elton Jantjies, Jean de Villiers, Frans Steyn, Juan de Jongh, Jan Serfontein, Robert Ebersohn, Bryan Habana, Lwazi Mvovo, Raymond Rhule, JP Pietersen, Bjorn Basson, Zane Kirchner.
No surprises here really, agree with GBS, is, at the moment, just a training squad, so still space for the Brussouw’s, etc.
What I do find strange is HM’s comment on Spies. I do feel that he has been taken out of context, and would like to hear/read his actual comment.
Whilst I have no problem (from his point of view) of thinking that Spies cannot, and will not be left out whilst he is in charge, I don’t think that it is wise to publicly come out with such a statement. It just opens you up to no end of ridicule, especially if the player does not perform to everyones expectations or DOES, at some stage get dropped.
If it does come out that that that is what he said, he needs to change his PR team, quick!!!
Good post GBS, glad to see you watch and follow rugby “with both eyes open and a fully functional brain”
I think Elton Jantjies is probably the luckiest flyhalf in SA, with the Southern Kings only returning from overseas this weekend, because surely Demetri Catrakilis must rank far above Jantjies at present.
Props I think are OK, best ones chosen in the circumstances, so too the hookers (with Adriaan Strauss clearly leading the whole field), Locks were always going to be these few (Franco van der Merwe has been good at The Sharks).
Loosies are OK too, pity that Lappies is’nt there and I think Heinrich Brussow is a glaring omission.
The Sharks scrummies have been average, with Cobus Reinach blowing hot and cold and Charl McLeod not regularly starting for the Sharks. At the Stormers their scrummies have been terrible, with Nick Groom basically costing his side 17 points last weekend, Dewaldt Duvenage not even in the Bok picture and Schreuder too far down the pecking order. At the Cheetahs, Super Sareltjie has put up his hand off and on with defence being a problem for him and Piet van Zyl is just too inconsistent. So, needless to say, I expected Heyneke Meyer to be backing the scrummies he has had involved with the Bokke in 2012, therefore Vermaak and Hougaard…. but they better buck up their respective games too!
Flyhalves, like I said at the start, was to be expected.
At centre there seems to be the most movement, with both Robert Ebersohn and Jan Serfontein getting the nod (and I think we are all glad about it)…. and I think Frans Steyn is bloody lucky to be in the Training Group, he’s been terrible this season.
At wing Willie le Roux can count himself unlucky, but once again I think that he has to brush up on his defensive abilities and prowess a bit more… certainly hot on attack but very feeble on defence. Habana, JP Pietersen, Raymond Rhule and even Bjorn Basson were the other logical selections at wing…. glad Heyneke left JJ Engelbrecht totally out of the mix at centre and at wing.
At fullback, Louis Ludik has just had a shoulder operation and is out for 4 months, leaving the remaining choices between Zane Kirchner, Hennie Daniller and Joe Pietersen…. and I suppose the incumbant got the nod.
So, what would I have changed in the Group? Maybe 2 or 3 players?
32 @ Gena_ZA:
Fully FUNCTIONAL might be a bit of an overstatement…. hahahaha
One needs to be as objective as is reasonably possible and try to evaluate all SA players under the same microscope… therefore you will find me being critical of certain Bulls players as much as I’m critical of Sharks or Cheetahs or Stormers players.
To turn a blind eye at the demerits of players from your favourite Franchise is just plain dom, doff and difficult…. and I’m not stupid, that’s for sure….
OK, I’m out to Doosburg, to clients… chat later
Funny how Bulls supporters first to sit and smile and yell sour grapes to everyone when people complain about them messing up South African rugby with their talent hogging, but they are the first to complain when our national team looks so shit and our talent pool look so thin.
There its all your union killing our rugby.
For Jantjies. Haven’t you guys learnt anything yet? He must be in the group (ANC’s orders) and he can’t be dropped from his provincial franchise unless injured. Mitchell and OS Du Randt got fired for dropping him once and reprimanding him for causing trouble. Percy Montgomery was given a warning for the incident.
@ Loosehead:
Question LH?
Are you anti Jantjies because of current form? Or have you not rated him since he burst onto the scene for the Lions a couple of seasons ago?
@ Lion4ever:
I think Bulls supporters won’t rate him as they exposed him everytime he plays against them. Found a different guy to run over him gaining huge amount of space doing so.
Imagine this. A guy like Jamie Roberts running at Jantjies playing for SA at 10 for 80 minutes?
Carnage!
I will switch off my tv after 10 minutes.
@ Bliksem:
Its funny how he could tackle at the Lions, admittedly his technique left a lot to be desired, but he now he cannot tackle? Funny how he could break the line and put his centres into space, but now he cannot find the Kimberly Hole? Funny how he could kick 8/10 at the Lions, but now is not allowed to take place kicks? Funny how he was the go to man at the Lions, but the Stormers no 9 will find 13 other players first before passing to him?
How can a player who for the last 2 years was one of the best attacking flyhalves in country suddenly be so bad?
Is it the player himself, or is it that all his creativity is coached out him where he currently is?
26 @ Bliksem:
There are pills for virtually anything… except what you suffer from.
If you had to think, it would be a new experience….
Truly, you take hate for anything that is not part of your support reference, to the next level!
@ Bliksem:
@36
Os and Percy, how were they involved with Jantjies, at the Springboks, or the Lions?
@ Lion4ever:
39
i really liked his game at the Lions, maybe a session or 2 with Carlos Spencer will help him, in fact since his Fathers sudden death , Carlos should have stepped in and help him.
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