Seven uncapped players, Damian de Allende, Lood de Jager, Cornal Hendricks, Teboho Mohoje, S’bura Sithole, Marcel van der Merwe and Callie Visagie, have been called up to Springbok duty as part of a 36-man squad for the Castle Lager Incoming Series next month.
The squad also includes experienced World Cup winners Schalk Burger and Victor Matfield, while there is a return to the Springboks for Schalk Brits, Juan de Jongh, Francois Hougaard, Lwazi Mvovo and Frans Steyn, all of whom last played Test rugby in 2012.
The national selectors have also kept a great deal of continuity. In total, 12 players who started the final Test of 2013, where the Springboks beat France in Paris for the first time in 16 years, have been retained in the squad.
However, notable omissions include Springbok captain and SARU’s Player of the Year in 2013, Jean de Villiers, who is out with a knee injury, and the Young Player of the Year for the last two seasons and IRB Player of the Year nominee last year, Eben Etzebeth, who has been given more time to fully recover from the foot injury which has kept him sidelined this entire season.
The Springboks will also be without one of their vice-captains, Adriaan Strauss, who has been suspended for three matches as well as the experienced Jaque Fourie, who started all three Tests last November but has been ruled out with an ankle injury and Pat Lambie, a regular member of the squad for the last two years.
“It’s never easy starting the international season without a number of key players, but it’s the same for our opponents as well and there are no excuses – we simply have to hit the ground running this week and make sure we start the season as well as possible,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, who will name the interim captain next week.
“Injuries also provide opportunities for new players and from what I’ve seen at the training camp in Durban earlier this week, they are also raring to go.”
“Oupa Mohoje got an opportunity at the Cheetahs following injuries to Lappies Labuschagne, Philip van der Walt and Jean Cook, and he took his chance. At the Sharks, Stephan Lewies came in for the injured Pieter-Steph du Toit and he came very close to inclusion in this squad.”
“It was also wonderful to see the excitement in the more experienced players, who have tasted what Test rugby is about. Everyone knows we’re at the start of a challenging season but everyone is raring to get going.”
Meyer said that all of the uncapped players deserved their opportunity.
“Damian, Cornal, Oupa, S’bura, Marcel and Callie have all been in great form recently for their various Vodacom Super Rugby franchises, while Lood was very impressive before his injury and he underlined that with a great attitude and work ethic at the Durban camp,” said Meyer.
“Some of them have been on the national selectors’ radar for a bit longer, while others have been very impressive at our training camp in Durban. They all deserve their selection and now it’s up to them to make the most of it.”
“Damian and S’bura both bring utility value to the team, as they can play in more than one position in the backline.”
“Cornal, who was the SA Sevens Player of the Year in 2013, is very fast and has a couple of very special attributes, so we’re very excited to work with him and hopefully improve him as a player.”
“Upfront, we’ve been very impressed with Lood and Oupa recently. Lood is a no-nonsense lock who will learn a lot from Victor and Bakkies, while Oupa is a superb line-out option, very fast and good with the ball in hand.”
“Marcel and Callie have been part of a resurgent Bulls pack recently and their play in the set-pieces is very good. Marcel can play on both sides of the scrum, which makes him a valuable option in the squad, while he also carries the ball well and has shown he can steal ball at the breakdown. Callie brings superb line-out throwing and great scrumming power, while he is never shy to do the dirty work on the field.”
Meyer added that he is looking forward to welcoming Matfield and Burger back into the Bok fold.
“Last year we saw what it meant to Bakkies, Fourie and Jaque when they returned and they showed that age should not be any measure when it comes to Test rugby – if you have the goods and can perform at world-class level, you deserve to be selected,” said Meyer.
“Victor and Schalk have both been out of the game for some time and for different reasons. A year ago, Schalk’s playing future was in doubt, so it’s great to have him back in the Bok fold and I’m looking forward to working with him for the first time. Their excitement at the Durban camp was palpable, but also contagious. The younger players fed off that and I know they will add a lot of value to the squad.”
On the inclusion of Brits he said: “Schalk was part of our plans from the beginning. He is one of the best hookers in the world, is one of the nominees for Heineken Cup Player of the Year and brings heaps of experience with him.”
Strauss, who has been suspended for three weeks for an illegal tackle last weekend, will rejoin in the squad for the final week of the Castle Lager Incoming Series, when his suspension has ended.
Injured players who were not available for selection after featuring in 2013, are De Villiers, Etzebeth, Lambie (bicep), Fourie (ankle), Frans Malherbe (concussion), 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) and Gio Aplon (elbow).
Juan Smith was also in the selection frame, but as he has been struggling with an injury in recent weeks, he requested the national selectors not to be considered.
The Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Incoming Series 2014:
- Willem Alberts (Cell C Sharks), Loose forward – 30 Test caps
- Bakkies Botha (Toulon, France), Lock – 78
- Schalk Brits (Saracens, England), Hooker – 5
- Schalk Burger (DHL Western Province), Loose forward – 68
- Marcell Coetzee (Cell C Sharks), Loose forward – 15
- Damian De Allende (DHL Western Province), Centre / Wing – 0
- Lodewyk de Jager (Toyota FS Cheetahs), Lock – 0
- Juan de Jongh (DHL Western Province), Centre – 14
- Bismarck du Plessis (Cell C Sharks), Hooker – 57
- Jannie du Plessis (Cell C Sharks), Prop – 51
- Fourie du Preez (Suntory, Japan), Scrumhalf – 67
- JJ Engelbrecht (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Centre / Wing – 12
- Johan Goosen (Toyota FS Cheetahs), Flyhalf – 4
- Bryan Habana (Toulon, France), Wing – 95
- Cornal Hendricks (Toyota FS Cheetahs), Wing – 0
- Francois Hougaard (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Scrumhalf – 27
- Zane Kirchner (Leinster, Ireland), Fullback – 28
- Siya Kolisi (DHL Western Province), Loose forward – 10
- Willie le Roux (Toyota FS Cheetahs), Fullback / Wing – 12
- Francois Louw (Bath, England), Loose forward – 28
- Victor Matfield (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Lock – 110
- Teboho “Oupa” Mohoje (Toyota FS Cheetahs), Loose forward – 0
- Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), Prop – 53
- Lwazi Mvovo (Cell C Sharks), Wing – 7
- Coenie Oosthuizen (Toyota FS Cheetahs), Prop – 14
- Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N Ireland), Scrumhalf – 74
- JP Pietersen (Cell C Sharks), Wing – 51
- Jan Serfontein (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Centre – 9
- S’bura Sithole (Cell C Sharks), Wing / Centre – 0
- Gurthrö Steenkamp (Toulouse, France), Prop – 49
- Frans Steyn (Cell C Sharks), Utility back – 53
- Morné Steyn (Stade Francais, France), Flyhalf – 54
- Flip van der Merwe (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Lock – 34
- Marcel van der Merwe (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Prop – 0
- Duane Vermeulen (DHL Western Province), No 8 – 16
- Callie Visagie (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Hooker – 0
@ Scrumdown:
I know but it is just easy to say… this guy isnt good enought and that guy is not good enough… “who would you select?”… Well… eh… Meyer would select MS because he knows Meyers structures.
All I am asking is who is the form flyhalf in south africa, regardless of Meyer according to opinion.
25 @ Nama:
klink ook goed.
@ Scrumdown:
Cheers Scrumdown, sterkte.
@ MacroBok:
Daais ‘n vokken moeilike vraag, want op die stadium is hie nie een losskakel wat my rerig beindruk nie. Lambie miskien op ‘n baie goeie dag. Verder is die res wat my betref maar “middle of the road” met ‘n goeie skopvoet pale toe.
29: Naand !
@ MacroBok:
Thanks Friend.
Don’t know who I’d pick. Truth is, there’s no “right” or “Wrong” answer.
Captain Henry James Morgan say’s it’s now time to sleep.
GOOD NIGHT ALL.
Met die Sharks verloor kan beide Tahs en Saders bo hulle eindig op die log ?
@ Nama:
presies dit is baie moeilik om te kies, Fransie het darem die skoppe pale toe wat net boshoff het, maar behalwe vir vandag was Boshoff nerens die laaste paar weke nie, en as Fransie se been nie so etter seer was nie het hy tien teen een daai laaste skop oor geskop, maar hy kon net nie ver genoeg skop nie… maar nou speel Jake sy “sterkste” span in hulle moer in.
Hoekom kan ons in suidelike halfrond nie ook soos noordelike halfrond beide plaaslike beker (CB) en super 15 tegelyk speel nie, dan speel jou beste spelers vir albei reekse ?
Maak super 15 minder of in 4 dele, dan kan verkorte CB ook plaasvind ?
waar het steyn daai laaste skop geskop? van die tien triee? Fransie moet daai skoppe toe oe oorskop, maar nou speel hy 80 minute met n besering, dit is flokken belaglik!
40 @ MacroBok:
as FS uit is, sal ek Jan en JDJ speel, net nie JJE nie.
Maar wie weet, dalk moet HM vir JJE speel, dit is mos sy bulplan om van hom ‘n senter te probeer maak ? 😮
@ Ben:
nee hel, ek dink JJE sal selfs die tackle sak laat val.
Ek dink speel de allende and JDJ teen die wereld span en vat dit van daar af, hoewel dit sal interessant wees om de allende op 13 te sien, hy het die bal vermoee en spoed. saam met janneman op 12.
ek dink meeste van die europese spelers gaan mallet se span speel.
@ Ben:
Ben long time no see, waar was jy ou maat?
44: so bietjie asem geskep van die gesprekke.
Gedroom vir die dag om ‘n Bulspan sonder Ross, Hattingh, JJE en Visser in die beginspan te sien …. maar toe agtergekom dit gaan nooit gebeur nie ….. gelukkig vir 4 weke nou rus, en dan is dit weer bloei saam met die bulle 😉
Nou is my vraag – met die rugby in europa klaar vir al die huursoldate, kan hul nou in res van super 15 kom speel of CB ?
Kan jy glo, ek sit heeltyd net om Danie te sien speel in sy laaste game, en hulle los hom op die bank ?
Franse, julle 👿 ❗ 😈 😐
@ Ben:
haha darem is stegman reg vir die playoffs 😛
48: ja, baie goeie speler. dalk so 2 of 3 games weer speel, dan weer uit vir 6 maande …… 😕
@ Ben:
ek verstaan nie hoekom daar nie jong outjies deurkom op 6 nie, die roelof smit outjie was so belowend
Nog nooit erens gesien dat HM vir Fransie as ‘n moontlikheid op losskakel sien nie. Hy het vir SARU gevra om vir Fransie uit sy kontrak te koop omdat hy hom op BINNESENTER wil gebruik. Goosen en Morne is sy twee losskkels. Vra vir Stormersboy.
Fransie is HM se no. 12. Dis hoekom JdV moes uitskuif 13 toe in 2012. Dit was net omdat Fransie beseer was laasjaar dat JdV op 12 gespeel het vir die Bokke.
50: en Wiaan en die oukie wat WB 0/20 2 jaar gelede gespeel het, en nou 7’s speel. So ook Wimpie. Almal beter as Ross.
Maar ja, nog ‘n jaar verby, sal maar sien wat met die kontrakterings gebeur, of hul geleer het uit die foute.
@ Nama:
ja op 12 sal hy nie werk nie
@ Ben:
Ross was laas week baie goed, en het als gedoen wat ons van hom verwag, die week was hy weer net na bal draer, Wimpie en Wian is nie die spelers wat ons op 6 nodig het nie, ken nie shaun addendorf se game so goed nie.
@ MacroBok:
Wat ek nie kan verstaan nie is dat ek al vir Boshoff en Goosen gesien het dat hulle 55m-58m strafskoppe/skepskoppe oorsit, maar die vokken kommentators maak nie so ‘n groot ophef daarvan as dit gebeur nie. Maar boeta, as daai Fransie dit doen, dan sal jy sweer hy is die eerste vokken speler wat dit nog ooit kon regkry.
Strond man. Ontleed daai laaitie se wedstryd Laat net sy skoppe pale toe buite berekening en jy sal sien hoe ‘n gemmiddelde speler hy is.
Jan en Ellendige op senters kan ook goed wees.
So Danie, Bakkies en Habana het nou alle bekers gewen wat gewen kan word in SA en Europa ?
@ Nama:
ek stem heeltemal saam jou… maar sy stelskopwerk was baie goed die laaste tyd, en dit moet n prioriteit wees vir ons om n 80% skopper te he.
Morne Steyn kan dit doen, maar sy form is n helse unknown vir ons (hoewel ek hou van die morne en willie afwisseling op loskakel)
Gee dit vir Fransie, hy skop goed die jaar, maar daai laaste skop moes hy vandag oorskop, hy kon net nie so ver skop a.g.v. sy besering nie.
Van die os op die jas.
Twee jaar gelede het almal voorbrand gemaak vir Janneman om die internasionale rugbywereld stormerhad te verower nadat hy die wereld junior rugbyspeler van die jaar was. Ek wag nog steeds.
Ek hoop mense leer hul laaste les en vergelyk nie weer junior rugby met senior rugby nie.
Holmbach het hom vandag ‘n poepol gemaak, maar nou ja. Janneman is die uitverkorene.
@Ben
Ek gaan seker nou lelik klink, maar ek gun dit vir Bakkies en Danie, maar Habana steek my so dwars in die krop
Hy is soos n flippen clown na die wedstryd met sy selfoon op die stokkie om selfies te neem, maar doen boggerol op die veld wat n jong Fransman nie ook kon doen nie.
Sy sokker duik verlede week was n skande, hy moet altyd act asof hy seer kry.
Eerlikwaar, hy irriteer tien soorte kak uit my uit deesdae
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