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
As for the Sharks? they really need to forget last weekend and plan god for this weekend, they cannot afford to lose as it will end up costing them the chance of a home final.
@ kaksioek:
Exactly, also at every ruck and maul the Saders transgressed and then my mouth fell open when Albert’s got his card for something the Saders did all game long.
I fear the “depleted” sharks are going to get a pakslae against the blues unfortunately (Hope not)
@ MacroBull:
Luckily you said the same before every Sharks game 😆 😆 😆
And we know 90% of the time you have been wrong hehehehe 😆
Now rather worry about your teams game against the Brumbies 😉 lol, actually may the Bulls klap them
Lambie and Coetzee back after the tour around the time Sharks play the Stormers. Also Zeilinga back just before then.
MacroBull wrote:
You had me until “Hope not”.
And of course we still have no word on Deysel’s future so who knows when he will be back, one thing is for sure, the Sharks do have solid backup at Loose Forward.
😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 @ kaksioek:
64 @ Sharks_forever:
haha not at all, I actually thought they had a good chance against the saders, I said they will have 1 really good game on this tour.65 @ Sharks_forever:
Iy’s a Grudge match!
Look the Sharks normally have the Blues no, but that is all history and I am not saying we will definitely win, but the chances are better than they were against the Saders, also the Sharks will atleast have 15 players on the field and we know how dangerous they become with 13 or 14 😉
😆
When all you guys were moping about the loser gameplan after the Brumbies game, I told you to chill out… the big one is coming
same gameplan nogal
Flok, this is a Bokke thread… so who in their farking right mind turned it into a flippen Sharks thread… Fokkie Toggie!
Jinne, we’ll hear till the day we are as old and decrepid as Tjarkie_Fornever about this game…. hahaha
@ Sharks_forever:
Or is it we know how weaker they become with 15? 😛
@ grootblousmile:
shush jy hehehehe, ons mors net so bietjie met MB, en dit help om daai 10 mil te jag na 20 mil 😆 😆
@ MacroBull:
Nee boet ek reken daai oorwining is net wat die Sharks nodding gehad het om hulle wakker the skud na n paar swak vertoonings.
Also I reckon the Sharks will from now on keep the ball in hand approach and not just kick it away as before, not saying they will go to all out running, but use their forwards more wisely and then run.
MacroBull on 15 May 2014 at 08:32 SAST
@ Puma:
I think the sharks will be more dangerous once they need to start chasing the pack in desperation and I said before the tour they will have one very good game.
Decent training squad, but feel for Warren Whitely. Against the Highlanders the Kiwi commentators could not believe that he would not e in contention for a SA call up. Also why are are S Vd Merwe and Julian Redelinghuys in there? They have been part the strongest scrum in SR. But otherwise I am ok with the squad and am very pleased that Bossie is in the squad. Should give him some much needed confidence.
@ grootblousmile:
GBS, I think teams should receive coverage on your site based on where they are in the competition. So, to make things simple, at present you should aim to publish 15 articles about the Sharks each day, 7 about the Bulls, 4 about the Cheetahs, 3 about the Stormers and 2 about the Lions. This is primarily an SA site, so you can use your discretion as far as the foreign teams go
MB old chap just you make sure your Bullies are up for it Saturday boet lol, it would be nice to have the Brumbies totally out of it,
@ Lion4ever:
Yip, Meyer should have included the Lions front row in the training squad at least.
@ kaksioek:
😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
81 @ kaksioek:
Ag gaan kak man…. hehehe
Flokken Tjarks… spit, spit, spit!
😆 @ grootblousmile:
86 @ Sharks_forever:
You heard what Kakkers said, he wants more Sharks articles… so get to work!
You do the articles, I’ll take out the “Maak al die Sharks Bokke” parts and the Sharks Arse-licking… and we should have a winning formula going… hehehehe
@ Sharks_forever:
Once you get the sharks in their own half they will kick it again. The defense was phenominal and they got parity up front, With McCaw there the teams were 14 v 14.
@ Sharks_forever:
Absolutely nothing I can do about the Bullies 🙂
😆 😆 @ grootblousmile:
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