World champion Springboks Victor Matfield and Schalk Burger as well as two former Blitzbok stars, Cornal Hendricks and S’bura Sithole, are included in a 36-man squad to attend a national training camp in Durban from 25 to 28 May, the South African Rugby Union announced on Monday.
Cell C Sharks back Sithole and Hendricks, the SA Sevens Player of the Year in 2013, are two of eight uncapped players in the squad. The others are the Toyota Cheetahs duo of Lood de Jager (lock) and Teboho “Oupa” Mohoje (loose forward); Marcel van der Merwe (prop) and Jacques du Plessis (flank/lock) of the Vodacom Bulls; Marnitz Boshoff (flyhalf) of the Lions and the DHL Stormers’ Damian De Allende (centre/wing).
They will join Matfield, Burger and Toyota Cheetahs flanker Heinrich Brüssow – who are back in the national set up for the first time since the last Rugby World Cup in 2011 – in a training squad that is missing a number of players due to injury.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer said he was happy with the form of a number of the country’s top players and the uncapped players who have grabbed their chance this season, as well as the re-appearance from retirement and long-term injury of Matfield and Burger.
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“Victor and Schalk have been out of rugby for a long time. They’ve really been in great form recently and the fact that they have not been with the Boks for more than two years, has made them hungry for Test rugby yet again,” said Meyer.
“It’s great to welcome them back into the Springbok fold and I know both of them can still add a lot of value to the team with the Rugby World Cup in 2015 looming.
“I’m also looking forward to working with Heinrich for the first time. He’s been playing very well for the Toyota Cheetahs since returning from injury and brings a lot of experience.
“However, the message to every player in this training squad is clear – everyone must accelerate in each area from the first moment we are together as a team and that inclusion in this squad is no guarantee of selection.”
Meyer said that injuries had been a concern but they had allowed other players to press their claims. A number of players in the squad are still nursing niggles or recently returned from long-term injuries.
“It looks like most of the guys are improving weekly and a few new players have put up their hands, which is good to see with the first match of the season, against the World XV in Cape Town, only a few weeks away.” said Meyer.
“It’s also very encouraging to see a bunch of new players emerging from Vodacom Super Rugby. This camp will provide us with a great opportunity to work with these players before the squad for the Castle Lager Incoming Series is finalised. I am looking forward to work with these players for the first time.
“This is a very big year for us and the players know they will have to step up a gear, be sharp and focused from the moment we get going in Durban. We have 14 very challenging matches ahead in 2014 and it’s imperative that we build on what was a good season last year.
“It’s important that we start building continuity because there are just 18 matches left until the Rugby World Cup starts. But it’s just as important to recognise continuous good form. We also have a number of players struggling with injury niggles or returning from injury which we have to assess.”
Players based in France, England and Ireland were not considered for this camp as most of them are still playing for their respective clubs.
However, the experienced Fourie du Preez, who played for the Springboks in 2013, has been invited to the camp in Durban as he is available for the Castle Lager Incoming Series against Wales and Scotland as well as against the Samsung-sponsored World XV.
The players invited to the training camp will assemble in Durban on Sunday morning and will return to their franchises on Wednesday morning.
“We have a good working relationship with our local franchises and we have to thank them, as well as Suntory in Japan, for allowing their players to attend this camp,” said Meyer.
Players who were involved with the Springboks last year, but were not considered for selection because of medium to long-term injuries, are Scarra Ntubeni (foot), Chiliboy Ralepelle (knee), Frik Kirsten (neck), Pieter-Steph du Toit (knee), Franco van der Merwe (ankle), Arno Botha (knee), Pierre Spies (bicep), Louis Schreuder (hand), Pat Lambie (bicep), Gio Aplon (elbow) and Jaque Fourie, who could potentially miss the entire Test season because of an ankle injury.
The 36-man Springbok training squad is:
Forwards (20): Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Toyota Cheetahs), Marcel van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls)*, Jannie du Plessis (Cell C Sharks), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Coenie Oosthuizen (Toyota Cheetahs), Bismarck du Plessis (Cell C Sharks), Adriaan Strauss (Toyota Cheetahs), Eben Etzebeth (DHL Stormers), Lood de Jager (Toyota Cheetahs)*, Victor Matfield (Vodacom Bulls), Flip van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls), Heinrich Brüssow (Toyota Cheetahs), Marcell Coetzee (Cell C Sharks), Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers), Willem Alberts (Cell C Sharks), Jacques du Plessis (Vodacom Bulls)*, Teboho Mohoje (Toyota Cheetahs)*, Duane Vermeulen (DHL Stormers), Schalk Burger (DHL Stormers).
Backs (16): Fourie du Preez (Suntory, Japan), Francois Hougaard (Vodacom Bulls), Johan Goosen (Toyota Cheetahs), Marnitz Boshoff (Lions)*, Jean de Villiers (DHL Stormers), Damian De Allende (DHL Stormers)*, Jan Serfontein (Vodacom Bulls), Juan de Jongh (DHL Stormers), JJ Engelbrecht (Vodacom Bulls), S’bura Sithole (Cell C Sharks)*, Frans Steyn (Cell C Sharks), Lwazi Mvovo (Cell C Sharks), Bjorn Basson (Vodacom Bulls), JP Pietersen (Cell C Sharks), Cornal Hendricks (Toyota Cheetahs)*, Willie le Roux (Toyota Cheetahs).
* – Uncapped at Test level
😆 @ MacroBull:
On a Monday, the 15 articles could analyse the individual performances of the 15 players who started the Sharks’ game in the previous round.
On Tuesday through Sunday, at least one of the 15 daily articles should be about what a genius Jake White is.
Of course, there is no such thing as a bad day of the week for a “How is Lambie doing?” article. Use your discretion here.
“Fireside chats with Puma” has a nice ring to it.
These are just a few ideas to get you started …
Now that Lion4ever has mentioned it, the Lions front row has indeed been strong in the scrums in 2014… their 2 props could have done with a look into the Bokke training squad!
Gosh how bad has McCaw been? I doubt he will make the world cup, he shouldn’t even make the RC squad. It is like picking Percy.
kaksioek wrote:
Isn’t that Sharksworld?
@ kaksioek:
😆 Kakkers, lol @ fireside chats with Pooms
@ MacroBull:
Hope this is sarcasm.
92 @ kaksioek:
I have another idea…
An article about kaksioek’s wild flights of fantacy… could that work?
@ MacroBull:
Wait a minute! You mean this isn’t … I thought there was something different about the site!
grootblousmile wrote:
Well, if we could find the space. I wouldn’t want to sacrifice any of the other articles.
Except when the sharks lose, there will be 15 articles on the all time sharks team, in the hayday of “sharks rugby”
15 articles of how outdated the kick and chase gameplan is.
and Of course, there is no such thing as a bad day of the week for a “How is Lambie doing?” article. Use your discretion here.(Copy+Paste)
@ kaksioek:
haha this site has a pic of gbs’s mug on the front page 😀
😆 😆 😆 @ MacroBull:
MacroBull wrote:
I thought that was the Reach for a Dream kid that ran out with the Sharks for some match and they had forgotten to update the site for a while – JUST KIDDING, GBS 😆
@ kaksioek:
luckily he got saved and was offered a bulls jersey!
@ MacroBull:
To be honest, it looks a bit like a hybrid Bulls/Sharks jersey – perhaps GBS is a “BullShark”, in the Keo lingo. Can’t blame him for latching onto a good thing 😉
@ kaksioek:
Maybe he also longs for the hayday of sharks running rugby?
104 @ kaksioek:
Fark, you guys just wish you were handsome devils like me!
My Picture gives class to the site, on it’s own!
106 @ kaksioek:
That picture of me was taken at Orlando Stadium, when the Bulls took a Super Rugby Title… by the way!
@ grootblousmile:
Oh, you had to add that last part 👿
Could have been worse – it could have been take in Durban like MacroBull’s picture.
Ah the evil reminder
Too bad I have no pictures or proof of the 2009 Loftus final I went to.
110 @ kaksioek:
Let me tell you about Durban…. hahaha
My Brother and I specially flew to Durban in 2007 for the Super Rugby Final… where we took the Super Rugby Title, of course… and flew back that same evening on the Red Eye!
Never in my life had I seen such euphoric Sharks supporters one moment and such dejection from them the next moment… it was classic, beyond words!
MacroBull wrote:
Us Sharks fans don’t live in the past – but we understand why you might want to
grootblousmile wrote:
You must have been kakking yourself for 80 minutes though!
Also, see #114
MacroBull wrote:
Ha!
@ kaksioek:
haha it is all we have at the moment
The last Sharks try (which should never have been a try because he bloody rolled the ball over the line right in front of my eyes (we sat in those steep stands right there where it was “scored”), threw me a bit… but the celebrations after the final whistle made up for that!!
116 @ kaksioek:
At least I was the one who remembered the game as i was the designated driver.
I’ve been privilaged to be at 3 Super Rugby Finals… and at all 3 my team won the Title… priceless!
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