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.
@178
Stem saam, maar ek dink dit sal lekker wees as n Sharkie darem ook hulle kant kom stel en ons so bietjie gas terug gee
Nama wrote:
Ja, daais wat skiet soos n krekker as hulle bars BOOM!!!!
180 @ Pietman:
Hoe laat is die Opening Ceremony en wie speel in die opening game?
@Pietman
Al hoe Bafana daar kan wees is as ons host, en ons beurt is nou klaar vir so 100 jaar.
Jou valley is nou volgende op die beurt
181 @ nortierd:
Nouja, jy praat mos met die ou… so dis in jou en sy hande.
grootblousmile wrote:
Haai, hoe kan jy nie weet nie?
Brazil v Croatia 22:00 vanaand
Games waarna ek uit sien in die 1ste rondte is Spanje t Nederland en Eng v Italy
grootblousmile wrote:
Sal so maak
186 @ nortierd:
Om heeltemal eerlik te wees, ek voel ‘n fok vir poofball.
Pietman wrote:
Dis seker hoe Jake gemaak is, een moerse boom geluid, en die rest is history
grootblousmile wrote:
Ha ha ha, kom so agter.
Ek like om elke 4 jaar te kyk, maar die ene, joh, die tye lol bietjie.
Gaan maar meeste games n mis moet gee, hier van 10 uur die aand en middernag
@ nortierd:
Ek hoor wat jy se, maar net soos in die geval met die AB. dink ek die Samoane gaan ‘n baie beter vertoning opsit.
Ek sal julle ouens Saterdag alleen moet los by die rugby, word 8vm geopereer….maar daarna is ek op 15 dae siekverlof en kan ons weer gesels.
So, ‘wish me luck as you wave me goodbye’, soos oom Dana Niehaus altyd gese het!
Ek waai eers na my dokkie toe, cheers manne.
@ Nama:
Jy toe jou pikke ingekry darem, daar op Superbru?
@ Pietman:
Hahaha…
@ Pietman:
Noggie. Sukkel nog.
Sal maar later/more weer probeer.
192 @ Pietman:
Wat’s fout, haal hulle jou klokke uit of so iets?
Pietman wrote:
Cheers Pietman, hoop nie dis darem n ernstige operasie nie.
Sterkte
197 @ nortierd:
Ek het vir julle sokker-fokkers ‘n Sokker-enetjie opgesit, gaan check!
@ nortierd:
@ grootblousmile:
Dankie.
Nee, nie klokke nie, darem bokant toe…my pens het geskeur, breukoperasie.
Tjeers eers, gooi mielies intussen!
Statement from SA Rugby
Jurie Roux, CEO of the South African Rugby Union, said: “In light of media coverage following Frans’ request to leave the Springbok squad, we have been placed in a very difficult position.
“We have an agreement with players in respect of the rights of both employer and employee not to publicly discuss any contractual situation and I will not breach that. However, allegations have been made that affect the reputation of the South African Rugby Union and Frans Steyn as an employee and person and they cannot go unchallenged.
“It is alleged that SARU breached a promise to Frans in terms of his contract. I can confirm that there was a dispute over mechanisms by which one element of Frans’ Springbok remuneration was to be paid. That issue was addressed. Some minor details remain to be sorted out, but they are not of such a scale as to be a cause for a major upheaval.
“Out of respect for Frans’ wishes, whatever other considerations may have been on his mind are not for me to discuss.
“I look forward to his return to playing in the near future in Vodacom Super Rugby as he has been a good servant to the Springboks and his franchise”
@ nortierd:
Jurie Roux sounds surprie about the upheavel. What did he/SARU expect?
“…a dispute over mechanisms by which one element of Frans’ Springbok remuneration was to be paid.
How many elements of Bok remuneration are there?
Salary…match fee…winning bonus…image rights…
What else?
@ Pietman:
Skeurbuik!
Nama 201
How many games did Steyn play since returning, and how many did he miss?
We know he came back from France fat, unfit and out of shape, not what one would expect from a pro.
He didn’t last long in 2013 in SR, and only really lost weight for Jake. When Plum was coach, he didn’t really care about either Plum or the Sharks, if he did he wouldn’t have been overweight in the first place.
So, it’s really about either contract or image rights, and as that earlier report suggested, it’s image rights.
Our power is gone and my laptops’ battery is low. So, talk later, Nortie.
204 @ Nama:
O flok, bly jy ook in of naby Brakkenjanpan.
Hier het ons gereeeeeeld geen krag nie!
Nama wrote:
Cheers Nama, lekker aand
Image rights are really about tax efficiency and have been going on for some time especially in European rugby.
they are paid to a third party in a tax haven like the Isle of Man or the Caymans. The third party being a shelf corporation or trust.
Maybe it’s this that SARU aren’t comfortable about?
gunther wrote:
@ Pietman:
‘Meganismes’ vir betaling?
Dit word kort-kort genoem, die betaalwyse…..
Dit klink nie of die geldbedrag die probleem is nie, maar wel waar/hoe die geld gestort moet word.
@ Pietman:
Is die son al op daar in die woeste tuin?
Steyn beter mooi werk met sy geld, dink nie hy sal hier n Cafe kan oopmaak en ondersteuning verwag nie.
Hom nog nooit as n ster gesien nie.
Met daai farked knieg moet hy nie nou vyande maak nie.
SARS sal hom ook nou seker in sy visier kry.
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