World champion Springboks Victor Matfield and Schalk Burger as well as two former Blitzbok stars, Cornal Hendricks and S’bura Sithole, are included in a 36-man squad to attend a national training camp in Durban from 25 to 28 May, the South African Rugby Union announced on Monday.
Cell C Sharks back Sithole and Hendricks, the SA Sevens Player of the Year in 2013, are two of eight uncapped players in the squad. The others are the Toyota Cheetahs duo of Lood de Jager (lock) and Teboho “Oupa” Mohoje (loose forward); Marcel van der Merwe (prop) and Jacques du Plessis (flank/lock) of the Vodacom Bulls; Marnitz Boshoff (flyhalf) of the Lions and the DHL Stormers’ Damian De Allende (centre/wing).
They will join Matfield, Burger and Toyota Cheetahs flanker Heinrich Brüssow – who are back in the national set up for the first time since the last Rugby World Cup in 2011 – in a training squad that is missing a number of players due to injury.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer said he was happy with the form of a number of the country’s top players and the uncapped players who have grabbed their chance this season, as well as the re-appearance from retirement and long-term injury of Matfield and Burger.
sarugby
“Victor and Schalk have been out of rugby for a long time. They’ve really been in great form recently and the fact that they have not been with the Boks for more than two years, has made them hungry for Test rugby yet again,” said Meyer.
“It’s great to welcome them back into the Springbok fold and I know both of them can still add a lot of value to the team with the Rugby World Cup in 2015 looming.
“I’m also looking forward to working with Heinrich for the first time. He’s been playing very well for the Toyota Cheetahs since returning from injury and brings a lot of experience.
“However, the message to every player in this training squad is clear – everyone must accelerate in each area from the first moment we are together as a team and that inclusion in this squad is no guarantee of selection.”
Meyer said that injuries had been a concern but they had allowed other players to press their claims. A number of players in the squad are still nursing niggles or recently returned from long-term injuries.
“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 match of the season, against the World XV in Cape Town, only a few weeks away.” said Meyer.
“It’s also very encouraging to see a bunch of new players emerging from Vodacom Super Rugby. 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. I am looking forward to work with these players for the first time.
“This is a very big year for us and the players know they will have to step up a gear, be sharp and focused from the moment we get going in Durban. We have 14 very challenging matches ahead in 2014 and it’s imperative that we build on what was a good season last year.
“It’s important that we start building continuity because there are just 18 matches left until the Rugby World Cup starts. But it’s just as important to recognise continuous good form. We also have a number of players struggling with injury niggles or returning from injury which we have to assess.”
Players based in France, England and Ireland were not considered for this camp as most of them are still playing for their respective clubs.
However, the experienced Fourie du Preez, who played for the Springboks in 2013, has been invited to the camp in Durban as he is available for the Castle Lager Incoming Series against Wales and Scotland as well as against the Samsung-sponsored World XV.
The players invited to the training camp will assemble in Durban on Sunday morning and will return to their franchises on Wednesday morning.
“We have a good working relationship with our local franchises and we have to thank them, as well as Suntory in Japan, for allowing their players to attend this camp,” said Meyer.
Players who were involved with the Springboks last year, but were not considered for selection because of medium to long-term injuries, are Scarra Ntubeni (foot), Chiliboy Ralepelle (knee), Frik Kirsten (neck), Pieter-Steph du Toit (knee), Franco van der Merwe (ankle), Arno Botha (knee), Pierre Spies (bicep), Louis Schreuder (hand), Pat Lambie (bicep), Gio Aplon (elbow) and Jaque Fourie, who could potentially miss the entire Test season because of an ankle injury.
The 36-man Springbok training squad is:
Forwards (20): Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Toyota Cheetahs), Marcel van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls)*, Jannie du Plessis (Cell C Sharks), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Coenie Oosthuizen (Toyota Cheetahs), Bismarck du Plessis (Cell C Sharks), Adriaan Strauss (Toyota Cheetahs), Eben Etzebeth (DHL Stormers), Lood de Jager (Toyota Cheetahs)*, Victor Matfield (Vodacom Bulls), Flip van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls), Heinrich Brüssow (Toyota Cheetahs), Marcell Coetzee (Cell C Sharks), Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers), Willem Alberts (Cell C Sharks), Jacques du Plessis (Vodacom Bulls)*, Teboho Mohoje (Toyota Cheetahs)*, Duane Vermeulen (DHL Stormers), Schalk Burger (DHL Stormers).
Backs (16): Fourie du Preez (Suntory, Japan), Francois Hougaard (Vodacom Bulls), Johan Goosen (Toyota Cheetahs), Marnitz Boshoff (Lions)*, Jean de Villiers (DHL Stormers), Damian De Allende (DHL Stormers)*, Jan Serfontein (Vodacom Bulls), Juan de Jongh (DHL Stormers), JJ Engelbrecht (Vodacom Bulls), S’bura Sithole (Cell C Sharks)*, Frans Steyn (Cell C Sharks), Lwazi Mvovo (Cell C Sharks), Bjorn Basson (Vodacom Bulls), JP Pietersen (Cell C Sharks), Cornal Hendricks (Toyota Cheetahs)*, Willie le Roux (Toyota Cheetahs).
* – Uncapped at Test level
NZINCHINA wrote:
Plan B
30 @ NZINCHINA:
No, I’m pretty sure you are now being obtuse AND arrogant…
oupa mohoje gaan nog n yster word,het nogal baie van juan smith se spelstyl in hom….en sy lunstaan werk is puik
NZINCHINA wrote:
Indiidually we dont stand a snowballs chance in hell, If we can make sure you guys dont get good quality ball and are as disruptive as the All Blacks usually are, we will stand a good change.
@ smallies:
En hy is so eelsydig soos danie russow, hy is ook hond vinnig!
NZINCHINA wrote:
Unfortunately I have to concede that I think you’re right.
@ MacroBull:
They’re all neutral these days MacBull , of course you can win on any given day as most teams can but the squad Hansen selected is superb, hooker which was previously a weakness won’t be for much longer, the AB player factory won’t allow that, who will play 10 for the Bokke this year?
@ Scrumdown:
I’m just calling it as I see it, it’s not arrogance I just think he has a superb squad who will be perfectly conditioned and up for the Bokke challenge.
@ NZINCHINA:
was mostly tongue in the cheek (not completely)
The boks usually struggle when we are dominated at the breakdown or even set pieces, it is the ultimate leveler in my opinion, and a place where the all blacks have been great at, the boks were better than everyone else last year at that.
That said, if we can maintain that, whoever we pick at flyhalf will already be at an advantage, we can een afford a safety first flyhalf like boshoff, Lambie should be a huge favourite for the RC.
… wanted to say, we can afford a safety first flyhalf, but if we can get good ball, Willie will slot into that channel on attack, making us a really dangerous side on attack, you only need 2 or 3 great moments to win a game, or even 2 bad moments
… to lose a game.
@ MacroBull:
Yer I got that Mac re the refs Eden Park was ruined but hardly our fault, you see I don’t think you can afford a safety first 10 against the Ab’s, ours are all game breakers and win us plenty of test matches, Lambie is a good option at 10 for sure, is he world class there yet do you think?
@ MacroBull:
vra die mighty crusaders,hy gaan nog groot wees,kind van die vrystaat se vlaktes wat hy is
@ NZINCHINA:
Well, I think we can at least expect a few unpunished shoulder charges from players like Nonu this year, then there is the player holding etc…
We don’t really have a “world class” 10, but we certainly have one or two match winners, Picking Lambie, we hope he is still consistant going at goal, but the string in his bow is his tactical kicking, if we can turn you guys and do well in the lineouts, and basically play to our strengths, how we basically always beat you guys, that is good enough.
Consider picking a team to play to OUR strengths, not a springbok team to play for the kiwi’s.
38 @ NZINCHINA:
Whilst the Bok forwards will be competetive in most games, I think the backs are really FAR behind the AB’s in terms of their ability to keep the ball alive and doing the work.
Too many times our ball becomes static (read dead) in midfield.
When we’re not on top of our “A” game there is an inability or unwillingness to change the game plan, or maybe there just isn’t a Plan B.
When SA are on top of their game they can beat anyone on any given day. Those days though seem to be few and far between of late when the men from the Land Of The Long White Cloud are on the same park.
NZINCHINA wrote:
Nobody gave the Sharks a chance of beating the Crusaders in Christchurch, yet they did so with 14 (and sometimes 13) men. Funny that.
@ kaksioek:
And by three tries to one, if I’m not mistaken. With an Aussie ref ❗
@ Scrumdown:
and we can not deny, this is one of the most dominant all black teams since i can remember, the franchises are doing well… the structures are working for them… hard to think of an all black team in history to take these guys on?
Only 2 hookers, will the backup come from the overseas?
@ kaksioek:
Yes a very good win for the Sharks despite the disgraceful thuggery, I think we’ll beat you twice again this year as we have better players, if i’m wrong you’ll be able to remind me about todays blogging, although my internet might mysteriously go down if we lose to the Bokke.
I’m off for a foot massage, cheers all.
Quite happy with the selections.
Brussauw certainly makes the Nation smile and pleases me that HM is not blinded to pre set selections and opinions.
Would have liked to see Reinach, Boom Prinsloo and Handre Pollard (but he is at U21 World Cup then)
Very happy to see youngsters that perform/has potential getting invited to the training camp – Teboho Majone, M v/d Merwe, J du Plessis; Cormal Henricks
Nizaam Car impressed but the loose forwards have plenty fine players there,
Players that in my opinion had bad seasons this far and should be concidered lucky is JP Pietersen, JJ Engelbrecht, Siya Kolisi
Bit skeptical on fly-half or the lack of a consistent top performer
51 @ NZINCHINA:
Ask the masseur to massage your swolen ego too, while you are about it.
The All Blacks have cracks… it is there… will it be exposed, is another story.
@ grootblousmile:
The cracks are wider than the “FAT LADIES” ass crack, 😆
54 @ Sharks_forever:
The All Blacks tight 5 is vulnerable, the lineout is vulnerable… it’s all about exposing the weaknesses effectively.
Not a bad squad, I am sure every teams supporters can cry for a player or 2 that could or should have been selected, us Sharks believe Lewies should have been there, we also know Lambie and PSDT and Marcel would have been for example,
Kockott??
@ grootblousmile:
Agree, Depleted Sharks teams showed that on Saturday, even with a blind Aussie ref bot blowing up the Sader LH who actually was the culprit for scrumming inwards all the time.
Bot = Not
Also we must not forget that this is a large squad, many will fall by the wayside!!! 🙄
Sharks_forever wrote:
The first penalty to the Crusaders was an absolute joke, with Jannie penalized for not scrumming straight (when he appeared to be doing so) and Crockett scrumming straight toward the opposite touch line – right in front of the AR! I couldn’t believe it!
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