A group of 38 players, featuring eight players who were not part of the first camp, will assemble in Durban for the second Springbok training camp before the final squad for the Castle Lager Incoming Series is named early next month.
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The players who were not part of the first training camp in Cape Town in April are: Gio Aplon (DHL Stormers, wing/fullback), the Toyota Cheetahs’ trio of Trevor Nyakane (prop), Lappies Labuschagne (loose forward) and Willie le Roux (fullback/wing), Vodacom Bulls duo of JJ Engelbrecht (centre/wing) and Lionel Mapoe (wing/centre), Wiehahn Herbst (The Sharks, prop) and Demetri Catrakilis (Southern Kings, flyhalf).
Seven injured players, who were part of Springbok squads in 2012, were not considered for selection as they will not be fit to play in June. They are JP Pietersen, Jaco Taute, Frans Steyn, Johan Goosen, Duane Vermeulen, Pat Cilliers and Frans Malherbe. Furthermore Andries Bekker, who is not available due to club commitments later this season in Japan, wasn’t considered for selection.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer said he was impressed with the form of a number of the country’s top players, despite concerns about the high number of injuries to key players.
“It looks like most of the guys are improving weekly and a few new players have put up their hands, which is good to see with the first Test only a few weeks away,” said Meyer.
“We’ve also been very impressed with the form shown by a number of players since we were together in April. This camp will provide us with a great opportunity to work with these players before the squad for the Castle Lager Incoming Series is finalised.
“Overseas-based players were not considered for this camp as some of them are still playing in their respective finals this coming weekend. They are at the end of their seasons and need a well-deserved break before the start of the Castle Lager Incoming Series.”
The training squad will assemble in Durban on Sunday, a day after the highly anticipated Vodacom Super Rugby derby between The Sharks and the Vodacom Bulls at Kings Park. All five South African franchises are in action on Saturday, 25 May – the Southern Kings host the Toyota Cheetahs in Port Elizabeth and the DHL Stormers take on the Reds in Cape Town.
Players invited to the second Springbok training camp of 2013:
Forwards (19): Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Jannie du Plessis, Coenie Oosthuizen, Wiehahn Herbst, Adriaan Strauss, Bismarck du Plessis, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Eben Etzebeth, Flip van der Merwe, Juandré Kruger, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Marcell Coetzee, Willem Alberts, Arno Botha, Lappies Labuschagne, Pierre Spies, Ryan Kankowski.
Backs (19): Jano Vermaak, Francois Hougaard, Pat Lambie, Morné Steyn, Elton Jantjies, Demetri Catrakilis, Jean de Villiers, Juan de Jongh, Jan Serfontein, Robert Ebersohn, JJ Engelbrecht, Bryan Habana, Lwazi Mvovo, Raymond Rhule, Lionel Mapoe, Bjorn Basson, Gio Aplon, Zane Kirchner, Willie le Roux.
Whereas we are aware that every coach has the right to pick players he believes in, it must be said that there are some glaring omissions from the training group!
The most notable exclusions are Toyota Cheetahs players Heinrich Brüssow, Piet van Zyl and Hennie Daniller.
On the other hand, some players can consider themselves very lucky to still be in the group, namely Francois Hougaard, Zane Kirchner, Elton Jantjies, Lionel Mapoe, Ryan Kankowski, Bismarck du Plessis and Beast Mtawarira but it has to be mentioned that the players returning from longer term injuries were always expected to still make the training group.
How totally out of form players like Elton Jantjies, Francois Hougaard and Jannie du Plessis still crack the nod is incomprehensible, except maybe in the case of Jannie du Plessis, where it can be argued that it is clear that South Africa has a material shortage of high quality tighthead props available.
One certainly feels boyed that the new faces of Demetri Catrakilis, Robert Ebersohn, Willie le Roux, Lappies Labuschagne, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Wiehahn Herbst and Trevor Nyakane gets a serious look into the Springboks, by being included in the training group. This is great reward for hard work and a testament of how well youngsters are coming through, and seen to be coming through, in South African rugby.
Heynecke is a knob to leave Brüssow out, on current form. May I add a pathological liar too, for trying to bullshit us with his penalty excuse!
Good article, agree about van Zyl and Daniller. I also don’t see what Marcel Coetzee has done to warrant selection.
Why Elton Jantjies? WTF!
And why not Heinrich Brussow….. goeie genade!
I feel very happy that Lappies Labuschagne, Willie le Roux, Robert Ebersohn and Trevor Nyakane… and therefore the Cheetahs in general are recognized for their strong performances this year, and equally so with The Greek, Demetri Catrakilis.
Must say, I did not expect Ryan Kankowski or Wiehahn Herbst’s names to be there, but I’m definately not unhappy about Herbts’s inclusion… good tighthead and what’s more he can scrum both sides of the scrum.
Altogether not a bad squad… and the fresh faces makes me happy….
It’s easy to satisfy most people when you have a squad of 38. Brusouw aside that is. (and Brok)
The harder part will be narrowing it down to 30 odd.
Heyneke is casting the net wide to allow for injuries and form returning from injury.
Given that 4 of the 5 provincial fly-halves have made the cute Burton Francis has reason to feel aggrieved.
Some of the Bok contracted players like Coetzee and Kanko are lucky to be in the squad but if they had been left out can you imagine? They are getting SARU salaries.
I assume that Frankie Steyn is unavailable through injury.
I think Lambie will cover at 15, only Zane there otherwise.
Hennie Daniller is unlucky IMO, given the dearth of quality at 15.
Francois Hougaard lucky to be included. I really hope Van Zyl gets a shot soon, I would hate to see ‘Bontgaard’ in the Springbok jumper again.
@ grootblousmile:
Imagine Hougaard and Jantjies at halfbacks!
Nice looking squad, but not to have HB in is criminal. What he lacks in physicality, he more than makes up in his ball stealing abilities.
No Brussouw? HM is a tit.
@ Lion4ever:
HM HAS to pick Brussouw, just a matter of time before sanity will prevail, so wait for it bro’. Dis n feit soos n koei…
No real surprises there except Herbst. Thought Meyer would over look him. So really chuffed for Herbst that he has been selected. He deserves his spot there, has played really well for Sharks. Only surprise is no Brussow again, just don’t understand why Meyer does not select him. Pleased to see Trevor Nyakane is there as well.
Meyer rates Hougaard and Kanko so knew they both would be there. Should have had Van Zyl there though. Then again he will select Pienaar for starting scrumhalf have no doubt and back up will be Vermaak. Or the otherway round. Think Meyer rates Pienaar more though. For me I would start with Vermaak and have Van Zyl as back up. Pity Reinach got injured as he did get a call up in the last training squad.
Anyhow expected to see most of those names. It is who is selected for the squad of 30. Is Flo injured? Otherwise expect him to be selected into the squad of 30.
For now the incoming tour is just a practise run for our Boks. Scotland are sending a under-strength side and we should easily beat Italy. The only side that we need to really play our best is against Samoa, then again should we? Do we really want to have more injuries before the RC starts?
Remember we still have two weeks of SR left and injuries are coming so fast now. So who is left standing will make the squad of 30 for the incoming tours.
Good luck to all the players that get selected.
Sal Brussow en Stegmann enige tyd bo Coetzee kies.
Hier is my bokgroep van 30 as ek hom nou moet kies:
Viljoen
Willie/Roelie
JJE/Eberzohn
Jan/JDV
Habana/Basson
Morne/Griek
Jano/Hougies/van Zyl
Spies/Alberts
Lappies/Arno
Brussow/Stegmann
Juandre/PSDT
Flip/Eben
Coenie/Jannie
Strauss/Chili/Bismark
Beast/Greyling
5 @ Stormersboy:
It will be Willie le Roux to cover fb. My feeling. If Lambie don’t pick up a injury this week, he and Morne will be selected for fh for the Boks. Think Meyer will go with those two as he knows what he has with Lambie now having him play 3 full games with the Boks there on the eoyt. He knows what he has in Morne as well. So think those two will be our fhs. Willie will cover fb. I would hope he starts there in one of our games against either Italy or Scotland to see how he goes there. Pity that A. Coetzee got injured with the Sharks. I rate him highly at fb. Also Ludik. For now it should have been Daniller that should have got a call up to this squad or even Viljoen as all are better than Zane. Zane is solid and that is that, he offers not much else.
Hak Hak, Kanko’ is k@k.
FFS, even his franchise coach has a problem with him.
Maar nou ja. WTF do I know?
All in all, he could pick a decent team from the group.
Meyer doesn’t rate Brusouw. Simple. He won’t make the cut in the near future.
Also, some of those outside backs will fall away. Either Rhule or Le Roux, probably Aplon too.
De Jongh is injured so may miss the cut.
Carl Kikilus and Elton probably also.
Still much cutting to go I fear.
Glad for Pieter Labuschagne
I always get the feeling that HM goes with his own gut feelings when initially selecting a squad, then when things (inevitably) start to go pear shaped acts like a rabbit in the headlights and calls up any and all players currently performing at domestic level in the hope that they’ll pull him out of the shyte.
He should bear in mind, “form is temporary, class is permanent”. He should also bear in mind that you don’t (normally try to cross the Atlantic on a Hobie Cat. Pick the right man for the job Mr Meyer.
14 @ Scrumdown:
Kanko was not kak in the last part of the SR last year. Was probably the best 8 at the time. He was not that kak either to be dropped. Think there is a personal problem with Plum and him to be honest. As Keegan was playing worse and never got dropped at the time.
@ Puma:
Personally, I’ve always considered him a more than capable Provincial player, but in all honesty cannot recall him having had a standout game in a green jumper.
Maybe test Rugby is too tight for his playing style?
17 @ Puma:
Hello my weekend enemy….
Placed such lovely humour and Afrikaans poems for you Sharkies on the Match Officials thread yesterday….yet you okes ignored me point blank!
Hennie Daniller has even less flair than Zane, please leave him out, anyone of Aplon, Small Joe, Marias would be a better choice but Willie should be the main man at 15
Piet van Zyl can’t be called in after one excellent game – Reinach was called in as cover and is now injured but he is higher in the pecking order after a very good season. I do rate Piet highly and he will get his turn when HM and FH closet sex is exposed.
As for Heinrich Brussouw, yet to meet anyone that feels he is not good enough..
But these 3 – Elton Jantjies, Lionel Mapoe, Ryan Kankowski, WTF
Flo and other overseas players will only come into the reckoning for the 4 nations, some still play in the last part of the European league and need a break
20 @ Gena_ZA:
Hennie Daniller made 3 crucial try-saving tackles on the weekend for the Staat against the Reds…
He looks cumbersome and has a bit of a “Donkey” look but go check how often he gets over the advantage line and how safe as houses he is in the last vestage.
Aplon has copped a few rude bump-off’s this season and is freegin short for a fullback… has some nice flair on attack though.
Little Joe performing admirably in a battling Stormers side… but apart from great goalkicking lacks something for National honours.
SP marais is only back now from injury, what will his form be like… in fact i might prefer George Whitehead over him for the Kings side… never for National Honours at this stage.
Willie le Roux looks like he’s been chosen as backup fullback to Zane… but he’s played wing all season, so I’d only use him at wing at this stage, not at fullback. Heck if Willie le Roux was so good at fullback why is Daniller preferred over him in his home franchise at fullback… sending Willie to wing.
With JP Pietersen out injured, the Springboks need a good right wing… and Willie is the ideal candidate, provided he learns to tackle like a monster.
I recon we’ll see Flo Louw in the mix for the loosies somewhere in June… but heck I hope Ruan Pienaar gets left in the UK… and stays there (he is good for UK conditions but is far too slow to clear for Southern Hemisphere conditions)
When Zane played all and sundry crusified him for his lack of flair, although he scores frequent tries and defended admirably and safe under the high ball with a good boot.
Hennie offers nothing more for a Bok team than Zane does and a very bad choice if we ever want to play attacking rugby or have any x-factor at the back
This is not inspiring and once again people only sees the last game
http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/player?id=1378&name=hennie-daniller&team=50018
If this is what we have I’d gladly stick with Zane <- and that is a pretty sad situation in itself
@ grootblousmile:
Naka wants the solidity that Daniller gives at FB, but he also wants Willie’s X factor. Only way is to play Willie on the wing. I agree, Daniller looks cumbersome, but is ver effective in general. He always pulls in at least two players when he runs from the back, and then frees up some space from the resultant ruck.
@ Gena_ZA:
Zane has his moments, but too often his instinct is the up and under!
hello almal,baie chuffed oor trevor willie en lappies ,baie pissed of oor brussie,laaik botha kwaai,dink kanko is n strooi pop sal vir daniller daar wou sien,dink hougaard kort gametime.sal daarvan hou om ebersohn en serfontein saam te sien met mvovo en rhule op vleuel
I rate Daniller. Does “Zane” better than Zane does it IMO.
Daniller at least offers more than kicking every fukken ball away.
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