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
@ Victoriabok:
I dont think any coach in history, would start all over from scratch in a world cup year. Some of the players tested over the last few years have simply been found wanting… and this is all that remains, some of them still pretty average.
208 @ MacroPolo:
Because none of “our 23” mean anything.
He is the only coach of the Bokke and his 23 are the only ones that count when it comes to selection. And that goes for all Bok coaches, they have to live and die by their selections.
If, after 3 years in charge, he doesn’t know precisely who his dream 23 is I would be very worried, but we know that one thing he can’t be accused of is not planning properly, so I believe he knows exactly what his dream team is….the question is whether or not they will all be fit at the same time, and that is unlikely, given the injury rate to players
HM built his squad over 4 years – he is not now a few months before the culmination of his effort going to make wholesale changes based on near term form. Form is an important consideration, but it is not the clincher.
@ nortie:
I would like to consider it “our” team regardless… or then you are just supporting someone Else’s team to see what he can do… and like whatever. I think few supporters have ever done that 😆 “oh well, its his team anyway”.
grootblousmile wrote:
We tried playing tests with a new team consisting of form players, Strauli picked the form players for each test and it failed
The Poms won the 2003 WC by playing an experienced team, one of the oldest teams at the time.
We played an experienced team in 2007 and the AB’s also had plenty caps in their 2011 team
I do agree we have to many experienced players that are in the team on past reputation and not on current form
I wouldn’t have picked
Schalk Brits
Jannie du Plessis
Elton Jantjies
JP Pietersen
Morné Steyn
Marcel van der Merwe
Jaque Fourie
Frans Steyn
… if things are like that then Springbok rugby is in very big trouble.
@ MacroPolo: Yes I agree. But lets go back to 2007 for a minute.
Specifically to two particular players. Monty and Os. Both were plucked from obscurity and history tells us the rest. So there is no single road to success as we’ve found out. That is what makes life so interesting. Man, this curry’s good. Even if I say so myself. And the grape juice is none too bad either. 🙂
Victoriabok wrote:
I think out of those players Marcel van der Merwe should worry about making his provincial team… and that says a lot
MacroPolo wrote:
Yes, it is our team….sorry, must have misunderstood the question.
The team is ours to support, but his to select.
That’s why you won’t ever see me posting my 23 players or whatever, it’s not my picks to make 😆
MacroPolo wrote:
He was a good prop when he started playing for us
Shows you what a season or two of Frans and Wessel’s coaching could do to you 🙁
Tassies wrote:
I
@ MacroPolo: I think its called balancing the scales.
205 @ MacroPolo:
I’d rather put down a Springbok 15 I would pick as starters, than purely a form team.
Whilst rewarding good current season form, I also believe you cannot go to a World Cup with too many absolute rookies… so I would build some experience into the side as well.
Here’s my Springbok 23, if I had to pick them right now:
Team:
1. Steven Kitshoff (Loosehead – form, form, form)
2. Bismarck du Plessis (Hooker – experience & form)
3. Frans Malherbe (Tighthead – form, form, form)
4. Eben Etzebeth (No 4 Lock – grunt & potential.. & experience)
5. Victor Matfield (No 5 Lock – lineouts & experience)
6. Francois Louw (Openside flank – experience, form, class)
7. Jaco Kriel (Blindside flank – form, form, form – he is equally adept at openside and blindside flank)
8. Duane Vermeulen (No 8 – Captain – form, class, grunt, experience) and if he is injured Warren Whiteley (No 8 – Captain – form, passion, ability)
9. Faf de Klerk (Scrumhalf – form, form, form)
10. Elton Jantjies (Flyhalf – Form and to an extent experience)
11. Bryan Habana (Left Wing – experience)
12. Damian de Allende (Inside Centre – form, form, form)
13. Lionel Mapoe (Outside Centre – form and to an extent experience)
14. Francois Hougaard (Right Wing – experience and in case the Faf experiment fails)
15. Willie le Roux (Fullback – X-Factor, experience)
Replacements:
16. Adriaan Strauss (Hooker – Experience)
17. Beast Mtawarira or Heinke van der Merwe (Loosehead – experience)
18. Vincent Koch (Tighthead – form, form, form)
19. Franco Mostert (Either Lock – form, form, form)
20. Warren Whiteley (Loose Forward – form, versatility, sheer balls), if he was in the starting lineup, then Schalk Burger (Loose Forward – experience)
21: Cobus Reinach (Scrumhalf – ability, X-Factor)
22. Pat Lambie (Flyhalf / Fullback / Utility – experience and versatility)
23. Jesse Kriel (Fullback / Wing / Utility – X-Factor, versatility, speed)
Something like that, I suppose…
Tassies wrote:
What is? 😆
@ grootblousmile:
Would be interesting to see how that team performs against an experienced Irish team.
You cant play Flouw or Habana, they fall outside your specified criteria 😉
@ Victoriabok: you were saying VB……..
Tassies wrote:
I remeber how the Poms hyped up Sheridan, how strong he was and how much he bench pressed
And how Os pushed his head up his rectum
Os se spiere kom van die plaas af, nie van die gym of die apteek nie
@ grootblousmile: neat team. I’d put some money on them. But I would choose slightly differently though. For a start; I have Pollard and Coetzee there. Definitely. But everyone to his own. 😀
@ Victoriabok: Os was a masterstroke. Don’t know whose idea that was but Jake was the hoofmeister so I suppose one must begrudgingly give him the credit. There were some big calls that year and they paid off. I’m of the feeling that, in order for us to have a chance, we are going to have to conjure up a few more big calls. Conservatism never one anyone anything.
@ Tassies:
But those calls were made well in advance no in the world cup year.
Tassies wrote:
Good team GBS, but I would also rather pick Pollard to start, I don’t think Jantjies has BMT at test level
On Super Rugby form Marcel would also be picked ahead of Schalk
Victoriabok wrote:
I cannot remember Os dominating too many scrums. His all-round play was, for me, what made him stand out.
I remember him holding his own a lot, much like Jannie Dup (in the scrums only)
225 @ MacroPolo:
They recently played for their Clubs in UK / Euro Finals… why can I not select them, surely there is nothing wrong with their form??
Unless you are referring to the Fact that I would not want to include players who have not played in the Prime SA Competition this year (foreign-based players)… which you would be partly right about, it is the ideal. But unfortunately it’s a bit short notice for that eventuality and it will then exclude some others too, like Heinke van der Merwe.
Look, to replace Francois Louw is not a train smash, Marcell Coetzee has played his heart out in a loosing cause for the Sharks in Super Rugby!
Bryan Habana… well, then I’d play Lwazi Mvovo at left wing.
@ Tassies: one = won
232 @ Stormersboy:
Oses defense was legendary.
Marcel and Schalk will play on opposite sides of the scrum. Schalk will play 7, Marcel/Flow 6
@ MacroPolo: but they were made. That’s the point. If we were discussing it here(and now) nobody here would have given those two a chance of making the team. The coach needs to be ‘brave’ in his selection and know what the hell he’s doing.
MacroPolo wrote:
Yes, few front rankers could compete with his work-rate, tackle stats and all-round commitment.
Tassies wrote:
We had a very good team, no real weaknesses except maybe on replacement centre 😛
FB 15 Percy Montgomery
RW 14 JP Pietersen
OC 13 Jaque Fourie
IC 12 François Steyn
LW 11 Bryan Habana
FH 10 Butch James
SH 9 Fourie du Preez
N8 8 Danie Rossouw Substituted off 72′
OF 7 Juan Smith
BF 6 Schalk Burger
RL 5 Victor Matfield
LL 4 Bakkies Botha
TP 3 CJ van der Linde
HK 2 John Smit (c) Sent to blood bin 72′ to 77′
LP 1 Os du Randt
Replacements:
HK 16 Bismarck du Plessis Substituted in 72′ Substituted off 77′
PR 17 Jannie du Plessis
LK 18 Johann Muller
FL 19 Wikus van Heerden Substituted in 72′
SH 20 Ruan Pienaar
FH 21 Andre Pretorius
CE 22 Wynand Olivier
228 @ Tassies:
231 @ Victoriabok:
Well, I considered Handré Pollard… he came bloody close to starting at No 10 (and I would start with him ahead of Pat Lambie at flyhalf), but the reason I picked Elton Jantjies was that he is used to Faf de Klerk and had a good season, whereas Handré Pollard had an on and off season.
Vicky, Marcell Coetzee might indeed be a better option than Schalk Burger on the bench… I picked Schalla because he could play Openside, Blindside or No 8, so his versatility counted for me from the bench.
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