The selection of 8 uncapped players and the return of a further 6 are the features of the Springbok squad named on Saturday for the 5 matches leading up to the Rugby World Cup later this season.
In addition to the 36 squad members, the national selectors have identified 13 players who are currently injured or will be in rehabilitation, but will form part of an extended squad for the matches against the World XV, Castle Lager Rugby Championship and the Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
The uncapped players in the squad are Scarra Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Rudy Paige, Faf de Klerk, Jesse Kriel, Franco Mostert and Lionel Mapoe.
Back in the Springbok fold after not featuring in any Springbok Tests last year, are Elton Jantjies, Frans Steyn, Jaque Fourie, Heinrich Brüssow, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Heinke van der Merwe.
The currently injured players included in the squad are Springbok captain Jean de Villiers, Lionel Mapoe, Heinrich Brüssow, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Frans Steyn, Coenie Oosthuizen, Lood de Jager, Duane Vermeulen, Cobus Reinach, Pat Lambie, Jaque Fourie, Jan Serfontein and Fourie du Preez. The latter suffered a knee injury while training with his Japanese club earlier this week.
“It’s a long list of injured players but all of them are in the selection frame and we’d like to work with them to assist with their rehabilitation,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
“Some of them are close to full fitness and they will start training as soon as possible. We’ll assess and manage all the injured players individually with their return to play in mind and will do what is the best for the player and the team, even if it means that some of them play for their clubs or provinces if deemed necessary by our medical team and in consultation with their unions.
“Coenie Oosthuizen has been selected, but he has a neck injury which will rule him out of joining the squad immediately. We will wait for medical clarity to ensure we do what is best for Coenie before a decision is made on the way forward.
“Even though Jaque Fourie announced that he had retired from Test rugby late last year, we have had positive talks with him and his club, Kobe in Japan, and an agreement was reached that he will be available for 1 last season of Test rugby. As soon as he’s back to full fitness, we’ll consider him for selection.
“Jean de Villiers’ rehabilitation is going very well but his return to play will be strictly monitored before an announcement in this regard is made.”
Scarra Ntubeni (hooker), Rudy Paige (scrumhalf) and Lionel Mapoe (outside back) have been part of Springbok tour squads before, but this will be the 1st involvement at international level for Faf de Klerk (scrumhalf), Franco Mostert (lock), Steven Kitshoff and Vincent Koch (both props).
Meyer added that Vodacom Super Rugby form weighed heavily and as always there were a number of players who were desperately close to selection, but just missed out in the end.
“This is testament to the great depth we’ve managed to build in most positions over the last few years. It’s good to know we have players outside this squad who will be able to slot in should it be necessary,” said the Springbok coach.
“Scarra has been with us before and he has done a great job specifically in the scrums with Vincent, Steven and Frans Malherbe for the DHL Stormers this year.
“Lionel, Franco, Faf and Elton have been part of the ever-improving Emirates Lions, while Rudy and Jesse grabbed their opportunities for the Vodacom Bulls this season.
Meyer added that he was pleased to have Heinke van der Merwe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Heinrich Brüssow, Frans Steyn and Jaque Fourie back with the Springboks.
“They are players with international experience and we know what they can do. It will be great to welcome them back into the Springbok fold and I know they will add value,” said the Springbok coach.
“It was great to see players such as Morné, Heinke, Bryan, Schalk Brits and Francois play in and win finals with their clubs in Europe.”
“We also talked to Andries Bekker as we wanted to consider him for selection, but upon a request from his club in Japan he was ultimately not picked for the squad at this stage. Hopefully he will be available at a later stage during the season.
“Flip van der Merwe was on our radar but ultimately he has decided to rule himself out of Springbok contention.”
Meyer said that he didn’t want to go into the 2015 Test season without exploring all options available to the Springboks.
“We will be guided by our medical team and specialists to ensure no stone is left unturned as we manage the injured players’ return to play. The players who have been included in the squad because of injuries to others must use this opportunity to break down the door to ensure they remain part of the squad as we look forward to the World Cup.
“As certain players regain fitness, others will be sent back to their provinces, but that doesn’t mean they are out of our thinking completely as the door to World Cup selection will never be fully closed. We talked to every player we thought could add value and considered every option available to us.
“The next 5 matches, before we finalise the squad for the Rugby World Cup, will be very important as we want to ensure the right 31 players are on the plane to England on 11 September.
“We have done a lot of planning and research and are well-prepared for the season. We’ll use the matches against the World XV, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina to fine tune where necessary, but the next 2 months also provide the players with an opportunity to put themselves in contention to make the World Cup squad.”
The Springbok squad is (in alphabetical order):
- Willem Alberts (Cell C Sharks), Loose forward, 32 Test caps
- Schalk Brits (Saracens, England), Hooker, 7 caps
- Schalk Burger (DHL Stormers / Suntory, Japan), Loose forward, 75 caps
- Marcell Coetzee (Cell C Sharks), Loose forward, 26 caps
- Damian de Allende (DHL Stormers), Centre, 3 caps
- Faf de Klerk (Emirates Lions / Steval Pumas), Scrumhalf, 0 caps
- Bismarck du Plessis (Cell C Sharks), Hooker, 70 caps
- Jannie du Plessis (Cell C Sharks), Prop, 62 caps
- Eben Etzebeth (DHL Stormers), Lock, 33 caps
- Elton Jantjies (Emirates Lions), Flyhalf, 2 caps
- Bryan Habana (Toulon, France), Wing, 106 caps
- Cornal Hendricks (Toyota Cheetahs), Wing, 11 caps
- Zane Kirchner (Leinster, Ireland), Wing / Fullback, 29 caps
- Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), Prop, 0 caps
- Vincent Koch (DHL Stormers / Steval Pumas), Prop, 0 caps
- Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers), Loose forward, 10 caps
- Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls), Fullback, 0 caps
- Willie le Roux (Toyota Cheetahs), Fullback / Wing, 25 caps
- Francois Louw (Bath, England), Loose forward, 34 caps
- Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Prop, 4 caps
- Victor Matfield (Vodacom Bulls), Lock, 121 caps
- Teboho “Oupa” Mohoje (Toyota Cheetahs), Loose forward, 7 caps
- Franco Mostert (Emirates Lions), Lock, 0 caps
- Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), Prop, 64 caps
- Lwazi Mvovo (Cell C Sharks), Wing, 10 caps
- Scarra Ntubeni (DHL Stormers), Hooker, 0 caps
- Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls), Prop, 13 caps
- Rudy Paige (Vodacom Bulls), Scrumhalf, 0 caps
- Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N Ireland), Scrumhalf, 80 caps
- JP Pietersen (Cell C Sharks), Centre / Wing, 59 caps
- Handré Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Flyhalf, 9 caps
- Morné Steyn (Stade Francais, France), Flyhalf, 59 caps
- Adriaan Strauss (Vodacom Bulls), Hooker, 44 caps
- Heinke van der Merwe (Stade Francais, France), Prop, 4 caps
- Marcel van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls), Prop, 4 caps
- Warren Whiteley (Emirates Lions), Loose forward, 2 caps
Injured / Conditioning squad:
- Heinrich Brüssow (Toyota Cheetahs / Docomo, Japan), Loose forward, 20 caps
- Lood de Jager (Toyota Cheetahs), Lock, 9 caps
- Jean de Villiers (DHL Stormers), Centre, 106 caps
- Fourie du Preez (Suntory, Japan), Scrumhalf, 70 caps
- Pieter-Steph du Toit (Cell C Sharks), Lock, 2 caps
- Jaque Fourie (Kobe, Japan), Centre, 72 caps
- Patrick Lambie (Cell C Sharks), Flyhalf / Fullback, 40 caps
- Lionel Mapoe (Emirates Lions), Centre, 0 caps
- Coenie Oosthuizen (Toyota Cheetahs), Prop, 21 caps
- Cobus Reinach (Cell C Sharks), Scrumhalf, 6 caps
- Jan Serfontein (Vodacom Bulls), Centre, 20 caps
- Frans Steyn (Cell C Sharks), Centre, 53 caps
- Duane Vermeulen (DHL Stormers), No 8, 29 caps
180 @ ryecatcher:
Yeah, wiki is great, so was arseing around in Latin class at Varsity too!
Now run along….
grootblousmile wrote:
You can’t possibly be serious?
182 @ MacroPolo:
Dead serious!
He is not in form and I think he is lucky to be in the Bok group at present, on past Reputation!
@ grootblousmile:
Shame
grootblousmile wrote:
I know them well, ructabunde……..
Tace irrumator !
For the record, I got the phrases from insults.net.
😀
Way too long ago to remember anything from Latin 1
@ grootblousmile:
Well I also would take Alberts because he has been probably our most successful loose forward over the last few years in those conditions… that’s besides the point though, because we all have our favorites and preferences for various reasons… to immediately claim it is because of provincialism is a stretch and a half. It is something us Bulls supporters often have had to deal with for near on a decade where our admiration for a certain player can only be “because he is a bull”… this is an equally absurd accusation.
tos man
186 @ Stormersboy:
Bwhahahaha
187 @ MacroPolo:
Nee, jy kan maar!
grootblousmile wrote:
I had to google the phrase….Latin Swear Words – YouSwear.com
http://www.youswear.com/index.asp?language=Latin
(literally fuck away), (64%) (36%). fellatrix, cocksucker, (58%) (42%). spurius, a bastard, (88%) (13%). tua esque, up yours, (60%) (40%). vaca stutta, stupid cow …
That was uncalled for.
It’s also not in the spirit of what this site is supposed to be
Willem Alberts is a shoe-in as our premier basher flank (fitness permitting).
“I doubt that HM will consider recent form as a selection clincher. I think HM will have a preference for experience, especially NH experience, & for players that are familiar and comfortable with his approach, expectations & demands, &, of course, his game plan – players that are mostly already ‘part of the family’, so to speak.”
grootblousmile wrote:
Alberts is ‘n yster
Ek dink die interne problem by die Sharks is die rede dat hy die jaar nie goed gespeel nie en gelyk het of hy nie belangstel nie
As hy vir die Bokke speel in die regte losvoorspeler kombinasie is hy dodelik op vedediging en hy is moeilik om te stop voor die voordeellyn
@ Angostura: Ango I think you have it spot on there brother. Bullseye. And I DO understand all the nuances.
MacroPolo wrote:
Player?
Players more likely
Spies
Dean
Werner
Callie
JJ
Visser
JLP
Callie
Jono
All farking useless and we’ve been saying it for years
191 @ Angostura:
legendary non-committal comment 😆
Angostura wrote:
On the slow, heavy NH fields Alberts (a fit one) would do the hard yards and give you go forward ball
194 @ Victoriabok:
Roets, Ettiene Botha, Zane, Fdp, Danie, Vic, Gary Botha, Danie, vd Heever ens ens
191 @ Angostura:
192 @ Victoriabok:
I do not have a problem with Willem Alberts as a player when on form… then he is deadly, specially in the tackling department!
What I do have a problem with, is that Heyneke Meyer said that Super Rugby form played a vital part in how he selected the large Bok Group.
Now if any of you could tell me that Willem Alberts was up to scratch in Super Rugby, then of course no argument!
BUT, and maybe that’s where I differ from you… Warren Whiteley was in Top Form all season, as was Jaco Kriel at the Lions (he did not even make the Bok cut), and both of them deserve in my opinion to be picked ahead of Willem Alberts (on current form).
Where I agree with you is that Willem Alberts WILL be picked in the final 31 of the Springbok World Cup squad… so here’s hoping he reaches that peak form again and plays a blinder.
@ grootblousmile:
We have all been saying for days that the current crop of players likely wont get that far in the World Cup anyway. So to risk the unknown may well be our best shot at this?
198 @ grootblousmile:
“What I do have a problem with, is that Heyneke Meyer said that Super Rugby form played a vital part in how he selected the large Bok Group.”
If SR form truly was a criteria for selection I doubt HM would even be able to fill a side.
HM must by now know precisely which 23 he wants to select as his run on side…..the problem is with all the injuries to players crucial to his plans I doubt he will get the opportunity to pick his choice 23.
So he has to make do with bits & bobs players hoping that some will recover in time.
The question is whether those bits & bobs players will be good enough to fill the voids?
199 @ MacroPolo:
I believe you need to pick your best 31 on CURRENT FORM, then select your captain and your likely starting 15 and replacements… and you mould a game plan, strategy and specific plays around that.
To the specific strenghts of your chosen group, for want of a better description.
I personally think it is not good to just repeatedly stay with a bunch of “Uitverkorenes” out of loyalty and then thinking you will take the crown.
The reason why players who play their hearts out and who are in top form, needs to be rewarded has it’s obvious rewards, both in the short term and long run, as it firstly keeps any form of complacency away and at the same time rewards exceptional effort…. and it provides a realistic goal to strive for.
So, maybe yes… risk a bit with players who have really let their hearts out on the field during the season. I call that a calculated risk, which in my book is an acceptable risk.
I think if we do not risk a bit, we do not stand a genuine chance to bring Bill home.
For instance, now that a master tactician like Fourie du Preez is out injured… I’d even maybe risk playing Faf de Klerk at scrumhalf, as he was the quickest scrumhalf of all the South African scrumhalves… may be risky, but could also maybe provide a much needed spark.
I’d risk playing a front row of Steven Kitshoff, Bismarck du Plessis and Frans Malherbe… as they were the top front row candidates for SA in Super Rugby!
@ nortie:
Touchwood, we have been fairly lucky injury wise to this point… regarding some players in the squad that can be seen as a negative 😆
nortie wrote:
Very true
On real stand out form we’d have to play with:
Stormers front row
None of the locks really stood out
Whitely, Kriel, Tecklenburg, Marcel, Schalk, Brussouw
Faf
Allende
Hougie
Kriel
Who else?
202 @ grootblousmile:
your form xv is?
MacroPolo wrote:
Not so sure about that Macro….from the current injured list the following would be first choice for HM’s 23:Jean, FdP, Jaques Fourie, Frans Steyn, Lambie, PSdT and Duane.
That’s quite a high percentage of crucial players in his eyes that’s on the crocked list IMO.
Guys, I love the banter on this site. And I think that I speak for most. GBS has created a wonderful forum where one can express oneself fully without the usual rancour in a previous life. Earlier posts disappoint me however. Use of latin is fine. I terminated that idea in standard 7 when I had the choice, so its lost on me. But, the legally trained of this world might think to reel their necks in somewhat so that we can debate in the genteel manner in which we have become accustomed. Just saying(from an ordinary, dof oke who failed latin when it didn’t matter).
@ nortie:
Why is so many of you afraid to talk about your 23 best players, I keep hearing “Meyers 23” 😆
We are fairly lucky in that most will recover pre world cup, the only big one for “Meyers 23” is probably Fdp.
grootblousmile wrote:
HM has picked his WC squad a long time ago
He only added the extra form Super 15 players for extra cover for older and injured players and some new talent he can use from the bench
He’ll use the new picks in the Championship to see how they perform and to give his injured players more time to recover
@ grootblousmile: a truly excellent post and analysis of the situation. Couldn’t put it better myself. It’s like a business. Risk nothing. Reward nothing.
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