The Springboks concluded a week of intense training at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport on Friday as their preparations for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour to Ireland, England, Italy and Wales stepped up a gear.
A total of 31 players took part in the training camp after prop Marcel van der Merwe withdrew due to injury.
Amongst the squad were four uncapped players in Lizo Gqoboka (prop), Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), Boela Abrahams (scrumhalf) and Rudy Paige (scrumhalf), who were invited to get a taste of what Springbok rugby is all about after impressive performances for their provinces in the Absa Currie Cup.
“We had a good week and the players really worked very hard on the field and in the gym,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
“The emphasis was on conditioning and we also paid a lot of attention to detail on and off the field. It was great to have time to work on these things before we embark on what will be a very tough tour.
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“The players’ attitude was great and I’m looking forward to the tour. We encountered all kinds of weather this year and it will be good to have an extended run in the type of conditions we could typically expect at the Rugby World Cup next year.”
Meyer added that the touring squad of 36 players will be finalised over the weekend
“It will be difficult to leave some guys behind, as it always is,” he said. “There are a number of players who are not available because of injury but that provides an opportunity for someone else and I’m confident we’ll be able to select a strong squad.
“This year we had quite a high number of debutants, but it was great to see these players come through and make the most of their opportunities. It will be the same on this tour and I’m excited to see what the new guys can bring to the table.”
Players from DHL Western Province and the Xerox Golden Lions, who will contest the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division final in Cape Town tomorrow, will also come into the selection frame although they were not considered for the training camp.
Apart from Van der Merwe, the following Springboks and players who have been involved with the national team will not be considered for the tour due to injury: Fourie du Preez, Schalk Brits, Callie Visagie, Frans Malherbe, Flip van der Merwe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Francois Louw, Siya Kolisi, Arno Botha, Pierre Spies and Willem Alberts, who could come into consideration at a later stage during the tour.
Several coaches and officials from other teams were invited to be part of the training camp in Stellenbosch, which included team meetings, field training and video sessions.
They included Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell and his management team, the Junior Springboks’ Dawie Theron and Warren Adams, Renfred Dazel of the Springbok Women Sevens team, Peter Engledow (GWK Griquas), Willem Oliphant (president of Despatch), Brent Janse van Rensburg (Grey High School in Port Elizabeth), and Jaco Koch and Jan-Hendrik Hattingh (Affies in Pretoria).
Furthermore, coaches and team management from Boland and Stellenbosch University also attended some sessions and spent time with the Springbok coaching team.
“It’s wonderful to have these guys around,” said Meyer. “All of them are eager to learn and improve, but in rugby the sharing of thoughts and ideas is very important so we also picked up interesting insights from them as well.”
Not related to this but not long in the door, here is Glasgow Warriors team to play Montpellier tomorrow in European Rugby Champions Cup:
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Hi GBS sorry to hijack this thread with European Rugby we just got back this afternoon and really don’t have the energy to do a thread. Edinburgh seem to have BIG injury problems as it looks like less than an hour before their match against LOU kicked off they announced on their twitter that a few of their players in the original XV were replaced which means South African Allan Dell got his first start moved from the bench to replace no 1 Alastair Dickenson, another South African Andries Strauss who was originally no 12 needed to be replaced with Phil Burleigh shifting from 10 to 12 and Tom Heathcote from the bench to starting flyhalf. Sutherland came in on bench no 17 and Dominguez 22. Just as well they are playing at home to get these guys in. In less than 20 min since kick off Edinburgh have made 4 substitutions can only assume they are due to injury – 12min Burleigh off Dominguez on, 15min Hamish Watson (flank) off Denton on, 18 min Sam Beard (other centre) off Dominguez on, 18 min Roddy Grant (flank) off Hilterbrand (hooker) on! This is Denton’s first match back since injury and am sure they wanted to ease him back into it sometime in the 2nd half not already in the first quarter of the game. Not watching so not sure what really is going on just following thread on internet.
Half time – Edinburgh 22/7 Lou (one converted try each and lots of penalties by Tom Heathcote.
Final score: Edinburgh 25/17 Lyon. 2nd win in a row for Edinburgh to take them to top of their European Rugby Challenge pool. Well done to Alan Solomons team who overcame huge disruption with various starting players pulled late on before the game and then having to make those 4 subs in the first quarter of the match, showed good character to hang in there for the win, good for late starter flyhalf Tom Heathcote getting 20 points with the boot.
To make matters worse for Edinburgh captain Grant Gilchrist had to leave field in 29th minute and was replaced by Ben Toolis. This will be of concern to Scotland as Gilchrist is set to lead Scotland in the tests starting 5th November. Not sure what all the injuries are and how serious they are only one could make out was that Sam Beard had to leave the field after a clash of heads.
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