Peter de Villiers announced the Springbok team to face Wales in Cardiff . Peter said that winning is not the first priority in this game. I hope that his attitude do not cheapen the Springbok jersey.
15 Frans Steyn,
14 Gio Aplon,
13 Jean de Villiers,
12 Butch James
11 Odwa Ndungane,
10 Ruan Pienaar,
9 Ricky Januarie,
8 Joe van Niekerk,
7 Dewald Potgieter,
6 Francois Louw,
5 Andries Bekker,
4 Danie Rossouw,
3 BJ Botha,
2 John Smit (c),
1 CJ vander Linde
Replacements:
16 Chiliboy Ralepelle,
17 Janie du Plessis,
18 Alistair Hargreaves,
19 Ryan Kankowski,
20 Meyer Bosman,
21 Juan de Jongh,
22 Bjorn Basson.
The Springbok selectors have announced a match 22 boasting a total of 531 test caps for the test against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, June 5. The starting XV for the one-off clash at the Millennium Stadium includes two new caps with one new selection on the bench.
The inclusion of newcomers Vodacom Stormers wing Gio Aplon and flanker Francois Louw in the run on XV and Vodacom Cheetahs wing Bjorn Basson on the bench is due recognition for their consistently good performances during the 2010 Vodacom Super 14 tournament.
Aplon, a Springbok in the Sevens code has been one of the stand-out backline players during the Super 14 and also offers an option at fullback. Louw has been crucial to the Stormers success at the breakdown this season combining his size with good technique to dominate in this area. Basson, who played for the Emerging Springboks against the British & Irish Lions in 2009, is rewarded for some strong performances for the Cheetahs during the last few rounds of the Super 14.
The squad was announced by Saru President Oregan Hoskins from Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.
The starting XV includes six overseas-based Springboks — fullback Frans Steyn, centres Jean de Villiers and Butch James, number eight Joe van Niekerk and props BJ Botha and CJ van der Linde.
De Villiers, Botha and Van der Linde all featured in the Boks’ final test of 2009 against Ireland at Croke Park in November. Steyn last played for the Springboks in the Vodacom Tri-Nations decider in Hamilton last August while 2007 World Cup flyhalf James and Van Niekerk last represented South Africa in tests against Australia in August 2008.
Van der Linde will play at loosehead and Botha at tighthead with Bok captain John Smit at hooker, where he finished the 2009 season against Ireland.
The selection also sees Ruan Pienaar start his first test at flyhalf since the Tri-Nations clash with the All Blacks in Bloemfontein in July last year. Pienaar’s halfback partner Ricky Januarie, who has been a regular squad member over the past few years, will start his first test since the record win over England at Twickenham in London at the end of 2008.
Bulls’ flanker Dewald Potgieter, who earned his debut test cap from the bench against Ireland last year, gets his first test start at blindside flank with regular Juan Smith unavailable for personal reasons. The experienced lock pairing of Andries Bekker and Danie Rossouw also featured in last year’s final test against Ireland.
The bench includes six players who were part of the 2009 end-of-year tour to Europe — hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle, prop Jannie du Plessis, lock Alistair Hargreaves, flanker Dewald Potgieter and centres Meyer Bosman and Juan de Jongh.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers said he was satisfied with the selection.
“We have had a few challenges with two of our sides in the Super 14 playoffs but we have still being able to assemble a very talented squad,” he said. “Nevertheless we have picked a few Bulls and Stormers players who we believe have earned their places through hard work and consistency.
“Gio and Francois, as well as Alistair and Bjorn impressed us during the Super 14 and it will be good for us to get a look at them at test level. I have also been impressed in recent weeks with Chiliboy Ralepelle’s form and work rate. Chili was part of the squad through last season but battled with a few injury setbacks. He looks fit and strong at the moment”.
De Villiers added that the six foreign-based players in the squad had an opportunity to show the selectors how they might feature in the Boks’ longer-term planning.
“All six of them are talented in their own right and four have them have played for the Boks in the last 12 months. Only Butch and Big Joe have not played since 2008 but they are both quality players who have been in good form for their clubs.
“Butch offers versatility in that he can play at flyhalf and he brings a physical edge to the defence, which we will need against Wales. Joe has been one of the top loose forwards in France for the past two seasons and in our discussions with him recently he has said he is raring to go. He is an athletic number eight who carries the ball well which complements the other two players in the back row”.
The Springbok coach said he expected a tough test in Cardiff.
“The Welsh are up for this one,” he said. “They have a strong squad with a few young guns who will be eager to prove themselves.
“With only a week to prepare for this test we are going to structure our training sessions very carefully to make sure that we focus our attentions on the right areas, with defence being one of the most critical. There is also the fact that this team has not played together before but we are not looking for excuses, we are accepting the challenge and it will be a great occasion,” De Villiers said.
Springboks vs Wales – Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Saturday 5 June, 2010
15 Francois Steyn (Racing Metro) – 36 caps
14 Gio Aplon (Vodacom Stormers) – uncapped
13 Jean de Villiers (Munster) – 55 caps
12 Butch James (Bath) – 35 caps
11 Odwa Ndungane (Sharks) – 6 caps
10 Ruan Pienaar (Sharks) – 36 caps
9 Ricky Januarie (Vodacom Stormers) – 40 caps
8 Joe van Niekerk (Toulon) – 51 caps
7 Dewald Potgieter (Vodacom Bulls) – 1 cap
6 Francois Louw (Vodacom Stormers) – uncapped
5 Andries Bekker (Vodacom Stormers) – 21 caps
4 Danie Rossouw (Vodacom Bulls) – 46 caps
3 BJ Botha (Ulster) – 19 caps
2 John Smit (Sharks, Capt) – 93 caps
1 CJ van der Linde (Leinster) – 58 caps
Reserves:
16 Chiliboy Ralepelle (Vodacom Bulls) – 8 caps
17 Jannie du Plessis (Sharks) – 12 caps
18 Alistair Hargreaves (Sharks) – uncapped
19 Ryan Kankowski (Sharks) – 11 caps
20 Meyer Bosman (Vodacom Cheetahs) – 3 caps
21 Juan de Jongh (Vodacom Stormers) – uncapped
22 Bjorn Basson (Vodacom Cheetahs) – uncapped
Wie is 12?
Butch James at 12
this teams a bit of a joke
Daar is 7 ouens wat in die S14 finaal gaan speel, nou wat nou, ek dog die S14 finaal spelers word uitgelos ?
Only The first choice final players have been rested.
just a msg for the bulls. here we come!
6: welkom
Saint geluk met jul wen, welkom in die finaal, hoop ek kan volgende week se “Thanks for coming”
Ek sien nie vir Shadow in die span nie, hy word seker deur Snorre gerus ?
Sensible side. Well done PdV.
He has rested the Bulls and Stormers that are obvious choices for the WC.
He is trying out some of the overseas players we need for the WC
a) Frans Steyn – has to go to the WC
b) BJ Botha – probably our best tighthead
c) Maybe Butch as a utility back
d) JdV
Also giving some others a run eg Gio, Dewald, Flo etc who have all played well this season
Very, very sensible.
He needs to try Pienaar at 10 because that is the most obvious backup to Morne. If that does not work then Butch is the man.
Think beyond Wales. This side is sensible given his choices
If one sees a Bok team with only 3 Bulls in it one immediately feel there is something wrong. But this time i dont mind, imagine the distraction on Gio Aplon, F Louw and Juan de Jongh and the other Stormer players minds.
But i think this team will change a lot during this week ,lets wait and see who runs on the field at the end.
Lots of my fave Boks here…..As I am going, I am fairly happy!!
No one has told me yet if Percy is coming over to coach the kicker….someone here must know!!
WTF are Chilliboy, Rickie, Hargreaves, Odwa, Kankowski and Basson doing in this team?
Looking at the wings selected one question lingers in my mind. When is Gerhard vd Heever going to leave overseas.
Sevens news:
Cup quarter finals:
Argentina v Wales
Australia v Fiji
South Africa v England
New Zealand v Samoa
More news:
Twee van die Sharks se Bokke, die kaptein John Smit en Ruan Pienaar, het volgens Sport24 se inligting reeds kontrakte met ander spanne gesluit.
Pienaar kan aan die einde van die jaar saam met twee van sy voormalige Sharks-spanmaats, Johann Muller (slot) en BJ Botha (stut), vir Ulster se span beskikbaar wees.
John Smit gaan blykbaar ns die Leeus.
“I hope that his attitude do not cheapen the Springbok jersey.”
How about “DOES not cheapen the Springbok jersey…”
John Smit signed the contract before the start of the Super 14. Butch is also coming. Shalk Brits also. Joe also. The GLRU offered JDV 1 million more than Province did, so we’ll see what happens there.
8 Sharks player wanting to move to the Lions. Negotiations still ongoing. The GLRU is releasing 9 players at the end of the CC.
Huge announcements coming including Mitchell.
Cape Argus starts article like this,
In a twist a Hollywood script writer would be hard-pressed to match, Francois Steyn was announced at fullback in the Springbok team to play Wales on June 5.
This is despite coach Peter de Villiers on Friday lamenting the fact that he has “had no relationship with the uncontactable player”, and Steyn’s agent confirming on Saturday that there is a serious fall-out between the parties.
ek hoop hulle koop die hele tjarks span dat die folkwrs kan voel hoe dit voel
i really hope this is not the team he is thinking of for the tri-nations?
19 @ smallies72:
Tussen my en jou ek dink nie hulle koop slim nie, kyk hulle sukses rate is ook maar laag. Daar is nie lojale manne aangekoop deur hulle nie, elke keer is dit fortuin soekers.
JF het na die Stormers gegaan met die regte attitude, hy wou n kans vat om die beste te wees, iets wat hy gevoel het hy reeds is. Hy het nie op ander kom leun nie hy het gegaan om te werk. Ek betwyfel baie spelers se motiewe.
No this is a forced team because he can not play the Stormer and Bulls players. I think it is a once off. Well i bloody hope so.
Whot!!!! No Luke Watson?????
Waar is Adriaan Strauss, wat soek Chilliboy daar?
24@ Pietman:
Adriaan Strauss is beseer.
Ek is meer verbaas dat Juan Smith nie daar is nie… ook dat Jean Deysel nie daar is nie..
Waar’s Beast, CJ impress my nie.
Butch op binnesenter??
Joe van Niekerk op No 8 in die plek van Ryan Kankowski…. WTF??
@ bigblueglimlag – Juan out for personal reasons. Think Div wants to see what CJ can do. You guys must remember that this is not the first Bok team. It’s an experimental team for a match that Div has been forced to play. He has to rest players and he doesn’t want to give away many new caps and he wants to see what some players like Butch and CJ can still offer, while trying Ruan again at flyhalf. You must remember that the Boks lack a back up to Morné and we need to keep Ruan ready in case Morné is injured. Just my 2 cents 🙂
I think its a decent side but as per usual there are a few non rugby related selections.. Think Ruan at 9,Butch at 10,Jdv at 12 and De Jongh at 13 would be awesome. Ricky was my hero when he won us that game at the house of pain but otherwise is average.. Chillyboy is an absolute joke to be selected and Hargreaves being selected in rubbish as well,he must be on of Snor’s favourites.. I’m tired of hearing that Hargreaves and Chillyboy are potential Bok captains,until they can start for there own union then they should not even be considered for the Boks..
26@ The_Young_Turk:
Beast is resting with the rest of the Sharks boys… no need to rest him.
Peter Grant should be Morne’s backup… not Ruan or Butch for that matter.
Ruan should be Fourie du Preez’ backup for the best Test Team (not this one against Wales) and Ruan should have been given the opportunity at No 9, not No 10. Rickie Januarie should not be in the Bokke squad anymore.
Jean de Villiers should have been the No 12, with Someone filling in for now at No 13… maybe Bosman.. or Bosman at 12 and Jean at 13…
Smit at No 2 and BJ at No 3 are good picks… they should also play there in the best Test Team.
Gio deserves his place fully but on the other wing I would have gone for Bjorn Basson, not Odwa…. Odwa is an old carthorse now… solid but brings nothing else to the game.
Glad that Fransie Steyn is played at No 15, that’s ultimately where he belongs for RWC 2011.
But with all this said I’m so excited to see Frans playing for the Boks that I can barely contain myself :). Am sure Puma will also be stoked about that.
Butch is over the hill but I think the other overseas players picked was a great idea.
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