Gurthrö Steenkamp
South Africa’s Player of the Year in 2010, Gurthrö Steenkamp, will make his 50th Test appearance for the Springboks when they take on Wales at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban on Saturday (kick-off 17:00 SA Time, 15:00 GMT).
Steenkamp has been included in the starting line-up for the first Welsh Test in one of six changes to the match-day squad from the team which comprehensively beat the World XV last weekend in Cape Town, four of which are positional shifts.
Cornal Hendricks, who shone for the Springboks last weekend at DHL Newlands, will make his Test debut on Saturday, while his provincial team mate from the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, the uncapped Lood de Jager, has been selected on the bench.
The two changes in the backline are at inside centre, where Jan Serfontein will earn his first Test start for South Africa, and scrumhalf, where Fourie du Preez will start with Ruan Pienaar on the bench alongside Tendai Mtawarira, who has swapped places with Steenkamp.
The 32-year-old Steenkamp, who made his international debut on 27 November 2004 against Scotland in Edinburgh, will become the 29th Springbok to reach 50 Test caps. He will also become the sixth prop to achieve this feat behind Os du Randt, CJ van der Linde, Ollie le Roux, Jannie du Plessis and Mtawarira.
“This is a wonderful achievement for Gurthrö and I’m very proud of him,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
“He has been playing Test rugby for a decade and is vastly experienced at all levels of the game. Gurthrö always gives everything he has for the Springbok jersey and it’s always good to see commitment and hard work pay off.”
Meyer was also very happy for Hendricks and De Jager, who have been two of the Toyota Cheetahs’ stars this season.
“To make one’s Test debut is a proud moment in any player’s career. Cornal and Lood fully deserve to be in the squad this weekend and I know they will do well,” said Meyer.
“Cornal performed exceptionally well in his first start for South Africa against the World XV last weekend and really made the most of his opportunity.”
“Lood has everything expected from a modern lock – not only is he big and powerful, but he likes the physical stuff and is very skilful as well.”
“I also planned on giving Jan an opportunity this month. He was first selected when he was 20 last year and it’s always been our plan to groom him for a long Springbok career. He’s been playing well for the Vodacom Bulls lately and his first start for the Springboks is well-deserved after making nine appearances from the bench in 2013.”
“Jan and JP Pietersen will face a very experienced midfield combination on Saturday, but they have played against the best in Vodacom Super Rugby and know what is expected of them.”
Meyer said he is expecting a stern challenge from Wales on Saturday.
“They started their tour well with a good win in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday evening and they are always fired up and ready,” said the Springbok coach.
“Wales have an experienced coaching team and they were the Six Nations champions in 2012 and 2013, as well as the back-bone of the British & Irish Lions team which beat Australia last year, so this will be a massive challenge in our first Test of the season.”
“Although we got our season off to a good start against the World XV last weekend, there were a few areas of the game we were not satisfied with and which we worked hard on this week. We will have to be at our best on Saturday and we want to make our supporters proud.”
Victor Matfield, who will captain the Springboks for the 18th time in a Test, will equal John Smit’s South African record of 111 Tests in the Green and Gold.
Four players who are part of the squad were not considered for selection because of illness and injury. They are Juan de Jongh (chest infection), Siya Kolisi (flu), Oupa Mohoje (flu) and Marnitz Boshoff (ankle).
Springbok team:
15. Willie le Roux (12 caps 20 points)
14. Cornal Hendricks (0 caps 0 points)
13. JP Pietersen (51 caps 80 points)
12. Jan Serfontein (9 caps 5 points)
11. Bryan Habana (95 caps 265 points)
10. Morné Steyn (54 caps 636 points)
9. Fourie du Preez (vice-captain – 67 caps, 75 points)
8. Duane Vermeulen (16 caps 5 points)
7. Willem Alberts (30 caps 35 points)
6. Francois Louw (28 caps 25 points)
5. Victor Matfield (captain – 110 caps 35 points)
4. Bakkies Botha (78 caps 35 points)
3. Jannie du Plessis (51 caps 5 points)
2. Bismarck du Plessis (vice-captain – 57 caps 45 points)
1. Gurthrö Steenkamp (49 caps 30 points)
Replacements:
16. Schalk Brits (5 caps 0 points)
17. Tendai Mtawarira (53 caps 10 points)
18. Coenie Oosthuizen (14 caps 10 points)
19. Lood de Jager (0 caps 0 points)
20. Schalk Burger (68 caps 65 points)
21. Ruan Pienaar (74 caps 130 points)
22. Johan Goosen (4 caps 8 points)
23. Lwazi Mvovo (7 caps 5 points)
Stats and facts:
- The Springbok starting team boasts a total of 707 Test caps (288 in the backline and 419 in the forwards), while there are a further 225 caps worth of experience on the bench.
- South Africa and Wales have played each other 27 times since 1906, with the Springboks winning 25 Tests, losing once and one was drawn. The Springboks have scored 739 points and 92 tries and conceded 382 points and 32 tries for an average score of 27-14.
- South Africa and Wales last met on 9 November, 2013 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. The Springboks beat Wales 24-15 thanks to three tries from Jean de Villiers, Bismarck du Plessis and Fourie du Preez against five penalties by Leigh Halfpenny.
- Victor Matfield will equal John Smit’s record of 111 Tests for South Africa in what will be his 11th Test against Wales, one more than the previous record 10 appearances against the Welsh, held jointly between him and Smit.
- Bryan Habana will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok wing, with 94 Tests in this position and if he scores a try, will extend his record of 53 Test tries for South Africa.
- Morné Steyn will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok flyhalf, with 52 Tests in this position. If he scores a try, he will also extend his record of eight Test tries as a flyhalf for South Africa.
- If he scores a try, Bismarck du Plessis will extend his record of nine test tries for South Africa as a hooker. Bismarck and his brother Jannie will also be playing together in their 32nd Test, a Springbok record for brothers.
- Schalk Burger will extend his record as the most capped Springbok flank, with 66 Tests in this position. He also shares the record with Juan Smith for the most Test tries as a flank (11).
- Gurthrö Steenkamp will be playing in his 50th Test for the Springboks. He will be the 29th Springbok in history to achieve this feat. If he scores a try, he will extend his own record of six tries as a prop for South Africa.
- Cornal Hendricks is the only new Springbok in the starting team. He will be Springbok No. 855. If he goes on, Lood de Jager will become Springbok No. 856.
- Thirteen of the players were involved in the last Test in 2013 (against France). JP Pietersen played on the wing while Gurthro Steenkamp and Bakkies went on as substitutes. Coenie Oosthuizen played tighthead prop while Ruan Pienaar started at scrumhalf.
- The referee is Romain Poite of France. This will be his fourth Test involving South Africa. The Springboks have won two and lost one of these encounters. His last game was the Test against New Zealand on 14 September, 2013 at Eden Park in Auckland, when the Boks lost by 29-15 in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
Springbok Test match records at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban:
- Most points – 31 (1t, 1c, 8p) by Morné Steyn on 1 August, 2009 against New Zealand.
- Most tries – five by Stefan Terblanche on 19 June, 1999 against Italy.
- Most conversions – eight by Gaffie du Toit on 19 June, 1999 against Italy.
- Most penalty goals – eight by Morné Steyn on 1 August, 2009 against New Zealand.
- Most drop goals – three by Naas Botha on 3 May, 1980 against South America and also three on 6 June, 1981 against Ireland.
@ Gumboots:
81
His Dad just stated the obvious imo
Leaving Racing Metro could only be explained at the time by an equal or BETTER financial terms,
if the offer was made in Rands then Fransie has a lousy agent; it took him 2 years to realise it.
😉
He may not be as clever as Gunter, mind you? 😉
@Gummi 85
Agree 100%
Why he even practiced with the team on the Monday to then walk out the Tuesday is weird.
Also, there have been reports that he walked out during the practice camp two weeks ago as well, so if that’s the case, why on earth did HM even pick him last week?
Seeing that he has started walking, he must just keep on walking all the way to Japan
from sport24
Tank Lanning
Are SARU perhaps paying price of pandering to some players wants (rather than needs)?
These weird contracts that see players able to play in Japan or Europe, yet be available for certain Bok games are masqueraded as “win-win” solutions. Win for the player, win for the agent yes, but I am not so sure about the win for South African rugby.
The simple truth of the matter is that we cannot compete with foreign currency salaries, so instead of asking players to try and work out hybrid contracts overseas, South Africa needs to offer them something that money can’t buy.
I do not for a single second begrudge players making as much money as they possibly can from an already short career that can be cut even shorter at any given second by injury. But rugby, in its current guise, offers players more than just money.
An enviable lifestyle, playing the national sport in front of millions of adoring fans, celebrity status, the ability to be a role model, playing in the Currie Cup and Super Rugby tournaments … And playing against the All Blacks while wearing the Springbok jersey!
Call Frans Steyn what you like, but how grumpy would you be if you had given up a giant French salary to come home, only to find Bok coach Heyneke Meyer selecting all the overseas-based players in any case?
And if promised certain terms upon returning to SA, which he was, then SARU must honour those terms.
To turn one’s back on the Boks is massive, especially mid-season, and he would have known that he would look like a spoilt brat by doing so. But time on the field is his primary bargaining tool.
How tragic that Springbok rugby has come to this!
And it is through pandering to big name player wants, rather than just trusting the next player in line, that we have arrived at this rather embarrassing impasse.
Go overseas by all means, make as much money as you want to, but give up all the good that comes with playing rugby in South Africa, including the Bok jersey, while doing so.
There is also no need to pour scorn on players choosing that overseas option. Percy Montgomery and Jean de Villiers had stints overseas, and came back as better players. It broadens horizons and adds a layer of maturity. But if players choose to stay there, rather than come back, then so be it.
Not only will it make life simpler for the Bok coach and selectors, but I have a feeling it will add to the pride in the jersey, and “Gees” in the squad. No longer will that jersey be available to all, but only to those who have chosen a path that allows them to earn it.
Meyer says he does not want to cheapen the jersey by offering out Test caps too freely. Well, I would rather have 15 debutants earning the right to that jersey than a prima donna turning it down because it does not come with enough money!
How many players in SA that SARU must “look after” and then they have other pressing matters as well.
Now we have 1 player unhappy with them, and I guarantee the majority of supporters will automatically assume SARU is the guilty party, because they are unhappy with other decisions SARU made, eg. the new SR format etc.
I’m sorry, but he is no more special as a player than the thousands of other playing rugby in SA. He could once kick penalties from far, but their are others that can also do that, and he is no longer the 19 year old child prodigy, so maybe he must stop acting like he is still 19
and just to spice it up, heres jw’s take on the issue
from sport24
Cape Town – Sharks Director of Rugby Jake White says Frans Steyn may not have received the respect he feels he deserved at the Springboks.
White, Steyn’s provincial coach at the Sharks, believes a lack of respect may have been a contributing factor.
“Maybe it’s a case of Frans still being viewed as a 19-year-old and not the 27-year-old man he is. He has a child of his own,” White told the Beeld website.
White feels Steyn is not in the right space mentally and therefore wants to take time to reconsider his international future.
White continued by saying that there was never a problem with Steyn at the Sharks where he was very comfortable.
White said he told Steyn to inform him if he wanted to rest, but that the player was happy to play in every game.
“I’m someone who knows how to get the best out of him,” continued White, who was the Springbok coach when Steyn made his international debut as a 19-year in 2006.
Steyn will finish the Super Rugby season with the Sharks before heading to Japan. It remains unclear when he will again be available to represent the Springboks.
nortierd @ 94
refer #95
maybe fransie is pissed off that saru offered a huge paycut because of his chronic knee injury… but still expect him to play full games? something that was clear after the world xv
@Ahley
He he, ja nee.
Typical White ne?
Is he implying Steyn must get more respect than the others? And if so, why?
If he wants to molly coddle him, that’s fine, it’s his choice, but then Steyn must realize that other coaches might not be into that sort of thing.
Heaven help the Japanese, first they got huge atomic bombs, then huge tsunamis, and even a huge farken lizard like Godzilla on their shores…..now they must ready themselves for a huge ego coming as well
@ Ashley:
steyn is not in the right space of mind mentally? tough if he cant ha dle a bit of public criticism. zane kirchner rarely grts any support but his stats and his records allways backs him up.
tough, if he cant take a bit of public criticism
nortierd wrote:
99 @ MacroBok:
eddie jones has been in japan for yeeeaaaars
That’s Steyn done.
Meyer will never pick him again.
Let’s call Fransie Steyn “Johnnie Walker” from now on, because he must just walk away from the Springboks, to Japan!
Jake will have to work overtime time stroke his ego when the SR resumes.
I somehow doubt that Steyn will be receiving a ” welcoming reception” at any other ground except Kings Park.
Can imagine Jake’s words to him before kick off….
“Moenie worry nie Champ, hulle is net jaloers op jou en jou awesome talente, so gaan maak vir my trots”
105 @ nortierd:
Had to chuckle!
nortierd wrote:
he never thought it would be a lifelong job. Remember how he praised him from the beginning. He must feel like a dad with a 14 year old pregnant daughter
Ek het sopas op die nuus gehoor dat n BMW M3 by n berg af gery het!!! Daar was glo 5 BULLS supporters in.
Dis so blerrie hartseer want daar was plek vir 6!!!
Ou in Brakpan stuur sy vrou om inkopies te doen voor die rugby game. Sy kom terug met 3 kaste bier, 2 kaste brandewyn, 1 kas Rum, 1 kas Coke en 2 brode.
Hy kyk haar verbaas aan en vra: “Kry ons kuiermense?”
“Nee” sê sy. “Hoekom?”
Hy vra toe: “Nou hoekom koop jy dan so baie brood?!”
Hoe weet jy ‘n kar is MOER oud? Dit het ‘n bumper sticker op wat se WP Currie Cup Champions.
@ Ashley:this season will be our year. for sure! 😮
yep
with the sharks falling apart
we might be called on to defend the honour of the sa super rugby sides!
stormersboy @ 111
ou scrumdown se kar het nog ñ “lion beker kampioene” sticker!
@ Ashley:
😆 😆 😆
Ashley wrote:
Nie meer nie. Dit was op die ou kar wat ek afgeskryf het nadat ek en die Kaptein te laat gaan kuier het nadat ons gedeurend die Lions Challenge vir Rusland so opgef*k het.
Toe besluit ek om vir my vrou n nuwe rooi kar te koop, vir har laaitie n nuwe rooi motorfiets te koop, en vir my n nuwe rooi kar te koop.
Het ook vir ons dogter n rooi netbal en doel gekoop.
Sy skreeu miskien vir die donners wat oranje dra, maar ek weet dat haar bloed rarig rooi is.
113 @ Ashley:
Ek het ook vir haar kar n fancy “wrap” gedoen met die foto van Francois Pienaar van 1993 waar hy “pose” met die Lion beker, Die Currie Cup, The M-Net Night series trofee en die EERSTE Super Rugby trofee wat deur n SA span gewen was.
Ashley wrote:
Wanneer het die camo span dit laas gewen?
Ashley wrote:
Ou grap – giggel werd
Realiteit – “o shit”
Kom agter jy maak jou naam gat – priceless
WP het CC in 2012 gewen 🙂
gena @ 188
per ongeluk?
@ Ashley:
113 ek ondek nou die dag so n plakaat van Leeus , by my ouboet gekry. Al die Transvalers het dit geteken. Moet hom soek en skenk aan scrumdown
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