The selection of 8 uncapped players and the return of a further 6 are the features of the Springbok squad named on Saturday for the 5 matches leading up to the Rugby World Cup later this season.
In addition to the 36 squad members, the national selectors have identified 13 players who are currently injured or will be in rehabilitation, but will form part of an extended squad for the matches against the World XV, Castle Lager Rugby Championship and the Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
The uncapped players in the squad are Scarra Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Rudy Paige, Faf de Klerk, Jesse Kriel, Franco Mostert and Lionel Mapoe.
Back in the Springbok fold after not featuring in any Springbok Tests last year, are Elton Jantjies, Frans Steyn, Jaque Fourie, Heinrich Brüssow, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Heinke van der Merwe.
The currently injured players included in the squad are Springbok captain Jean de Villiers, Lionel Mapoe, Heinrich Brüssow, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Frans Steyn, Coenie Oosthuizen, Lood de Jager, Duane Vermeulen, Cobus Reinach, Pat Lambie, Jaque Fourie, Jan Serfontein and Fourie du Preez. The latter suffered a knee injury while training with his Japanese club earlier this week.
“It’s a long list of injured players but all of them are in the selection frame and we’d like to work with them to assist with their rehabilitation,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
“Some of them are close to full fitness and they will start training as soon as possible. We’ll assess and manage all the injured players individually with their return to play in mind and will do what is the best for the player and the team, even if it means that some of them play for their clubs or provinces if deemed necessary by our medical team and in consultation with their unions.
“Coenie Oosthuizen has been selected, but he has a neck injury which will rule him out of joining the squad immediately. We will wait for medical clarity to ensure we do what is best for Coenie before a decision is made on the way forward.
“Even though Jaque Fourie announced that he had retired from Test rugby late last year, we have had positive talks with him and his club, Kobe in Japan, and an agreement was reached that he will be available for 1 last season of Test rugby. As soon as he’s back to full fitness, we’ll consider him for selection.
“Jean de Villiers’ rehabilitation is going very well but his return to play will be strictly monitored before an announcement in this regard is made.”
Scarra Ntubeni (hooker), Rudy Paige (scrumhalf) and Lionel Mapoe (outside back) have been part of Springbok tour squads before, but this will be the 1st involvement at international level for Faf de Klerk (scrumhalf), Franco Mostert (lock), Steven Kitshoff and Vincent Koch (both props).
Meyer added that Vodacom Super Rugby form weighed heavily and as always there were a number of players who were desperately close to selection, but just missed out in the end.
“This is testament to the great depth we’ve managed to build in most positions over the last few years. It’s good to know we have players outside this squad who will be able to slot in should it be necessary,” said the Springbok coach.
“Scarra has been with us before and he has done a great job specifically in the scrums with Vincent, Steven and Frans Malherbe for the DHL Stormers this year.
“Lionel, Franco, Faf and Elton have been part of the ever-improving Emirates Lions, while Rudy and Jesse grabbed their opportunities for the Vodacom Bulls this season.
Meyer added that he was pleased to have Heinke van der Merwe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Heinrich Brüssow, Frans Steyn and Jaque Fourie back with the Springboks.
“They are players with international experience and we know what they can do. It will be great to welcome them back into the Springbok fold and I know they will add value,” said the Springbok coach.
“It was great to see players such as Morné, Heinke, Bryan, Schalk Brits and Francois play in and win finals with their clubs in Europe.”
“We also talked to Andries Bekker as we wanted to consider him for selection, but upon a request from his club in Japan he was ultimately not picked for the squad at this stage. Hopefully he will be available at a later stage during the season.
“Flip van der Merwe was on our radar but ultimately he has decided to rule himself out of Springbok contention.”
Meyer said that he didn’t want to go into the 2015 Test season without exploring all options available to the Springboks.
“We will be guided by our medical team and specialists to ensure no stone is left unturned as we manage the injured players’ return to play. The players who have been included in the squad because of injuries to others must use this opportunity to break down the door to ensure they remain part of the squad as we look forward to the World Cup.
“As certain players regain fitness, others will be sent back to their provinces, but that doesn’t mean they are out of our thinking completely as the door to World Cup selection will never be fully closed. We talked to every player we thought could add value and considered every option available to us.
“The next 5 matches, before we finalise the squad for the Rugby World Cup, will be very important as we want to ensure the right 31 players are on the plane to England on 11 September.
“We have done a lot of planning and research and are well-prepared for the season. We’ll use the matches against the World XV, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina to fine tune where necessary, but the next 2 months also provide the players with an opportunity to put themselves in contention to make the World Cup squad.”
The Springbok squad is (in alphabetical order):
- Willem Alberts (Cell C Sharks), Loose forward, 32 Test caps
- Schalk Brits (Saracens, England), Hooker, 7 caps
- Schalk Burger (DHL Stormers / Suntory, Japan), Loose forward, 75 caps
- Marcell Coetzee (Cell C Sharks), Loose forward, 26 caps
- Damian de Allende (DHL Stormers), Centre, 3 caps
- Faf de Klerk (Emirates Lions / Steval Pumas), Scrumhalf, 0 caps
- Bismarck du Plessis (Cell C Sharks), Hooker, 70 caps
- Jannie du Plessis (Cell C Sharks), Prop, 62 caps
- Eben Etzebeth (DHL Stormers), Lock, 33 caps
- Elton Jantjies (Emirates Lions), Flyhalf, 2 caps
- Bryan Habana (Toulon, France), Wing, 106 caps
- Cornal Hendricks (Toyota Cheetahs), Wing, 11 caps
- Zane Kirchner (Leinster, Ireland), Wing / Fullback, 29 caps
- Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), Prop, 0 caps
- Vincent Koch (DHL Stormers / Steval Pumas), Prop, 0 caps
- Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers), Loose forward, 10 caps
- Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls), Fullback, 0 caps
- Willie le Roux (Toyota Cheetahs), Fullback / Wing, 25 caps
- Francois Louw (Bath, England), Loose forward, 34 caps
- Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Prop, 4 caps
- Victor Matfield (Vodacom Bulls), Lock, 121 caps
- Teboho “Oupa” Mohoje (Toyota Cheetahs), Loose forward, 7 caps
- Franco Mostert (Emirates Lions), Lock, 0 caps
- Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), Prop, 64 caps
- Lwazi Mvovo (Cell C Sharks), Wing, 10 caps
- Scarra Ntubeni (DHL Stormers), Hooker, 0 caps
- Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls), Prop, 13 caps
- Rudy Paige (Vodacom Bulls), Scrumhalf, 0 caps
- Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N Ireland), Scrumhalf, 80 caps
- JP Pietersen (Cell C Sharks), Centre / Wing, 59 caps
- Handré Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Flyhalf, 9 caps
- Morné Steyn (Stade Francais, France), Flyhalf, 59 caps
- Adriaan Strauss (Vodacom Bulls), Hooker, 44 caps
- Heinke van der Merwe (Stade Francais, France), Prop, 4 caps
- Marcel van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls), Prop, 4 caps
- Warren Whiteley (Emirates Lions), Loose forward, 2 caps
Injured / Conditioning squad:
- Heinrich Brüssow (Toyota Cheetahs / Docomo, Japan), Loose forward, 20 caps
- Lood de Jager (Toyota Cheetahs), Lock, 9 caps
- Jean de Villiers (DHL Stormers), Centre, 106 caps
- Fourie du Preez (Suntory, Japan), Scrumhalf, 70 caps
- Pieter-Steph du Toit (Cell C Sharks), Lock, 2 caps
- Jaque Fourie (Kobe, Japan), Centre, 72 caps
- Patrick Lambie (Cell C Sharks), Flyhalf / Fullback, 40 caps
- Lionel Mapoe (Emirates Lions), Centre, 0 caps
- Coenie Oosthuizen (Toyota Cheetahs), Prop, 21 caps
- Cobus Reinach (Cell C Sharks), Scrumhalf, 6 caps
- Jan Serfontein (Vodacom Bulls), Centre, 20 caps
- Frans Steyn (Cell C Sharks), Centre, 53 caps
- Duane Vermeulen (DHL Stormers), No 8, 29 caps
88 @ smallies:
Die All Blacks val uit die bus uit in WB, veral weg van die huis, maar die kwessie hier is gaan die Bokke met hulle huidige span die span wees wat gaan munt slaan uit dit uit?
Onthou, in die ’99 en 2003 WB het ons nie gewen oor hulle uit die bus uit geval het nie.
So, as hulle wel weer uit die bus uit val, gaan ons goed genoeg wees met die spelers wat ons tans het, en ons spel patroon om te keer dat Eng, Aus of Ierland dit nie wen as dit nie die AB’s is nie?
hello boks fans
as you know Heinke van de Meerwe has done very well
for Stade Français this year and last year
he is within every single Team of the season allover the internet and french papers
I have a couple of questions
A) What is the competition at loosehead in SA
B) Any chance he might be tested during 4 nations
C) Would you bet on him as a RWC contender
I imagine eveybody expects morne steyn to be the fly-half backup of Pollard ?
Re Alberts
I understand Meyer will take him to the RWC whatever
Am I right ?
has not yet benn annonced at Stade Français
but it is considered as pretty sure here
rebop75 wrote:
I hope Stade’s physio and doctor are appointed on a scheme where they can claim overtime…..with Alberts on their books they will need it, he is a walking sick note
nortie wrote:
natuurlik man die bandiete sal nie nie een van die eilanders kan nie,die ingilse praat te veel ,die waliesers sing te veel,die iere wil net fight en soos ons weet gaan die kanibale hulle self dood dans en uit die bus val…..wie bly oor the mot so mighty bokke,maar n bok span met n huge set of balls
@ nortie: At the risk of sounding like I’m currying favour, I have to agree. Losing to Ireland like we did was a national calamity last year. How can that happen we collectively ask? Well, its quite simple really. We have a crap team and management comparatively speaking(of course) and not getting better. Rather the other way. The S15 is not a completely isolated concept.
smallies wrote:
Bly om te hoor, so ons is sorted
me again…
a centre/wing or flyhalf/center from abroad is expected at Stade Français in autumn
any clue on a potential SA candidate ?
or australian
Tom Taylor was to come to Bayonne but as they have financial difficulties
I guess some French club will try to grab him
do you have any input on this player ?
nortie wrote:
that is what I heard…
but dear fellow rugby fan you do not quite answer my question…
(I do the planning for our physio and I need to know when the beast might come)
@ rebop75:
Thought his business with the Sharks should have been finished by now, he is probably going to be in the Bok group until after the Rugby Championship
96 @ Tassies:
Yep, and I doubt that any of our current SR sides would even have reached the play offs of the European Championship had we taken part there.
It seems as if the other countries are moving ahead and we are either stagnating or falling behind.
An indication of our decline is when we start worrying about beating Argentina and hail it as a huge accomplishment if we beat them away by 5 points or so.
What concerns me most is that we arguably rise up for the challenge when we face the All Blacks, it’s all guts and glory stuff, but we hardly look like we pitch up when we face the other countries.
Are the players just as guilty as the supporters at dismissing Ireland, Wales and England as opposition?
Actually, we do also get up for the occasion when facing England, the players hate losing to the Poms
nortie wrote:
Good question Nortie!
But a rhetorical one, I am afraid.
Take Duane Vermeulen, as an example – the mere mention of an eight figure pay check (in SA currency) and he was sitting in business class on his way to France, probably not even sparing a glance at Newlands down there where his team was busy preparing for one of the most important games of the season, or a phone call to Gert Smal on his sponsored Samsung, as he high-tailed out of the country, leaving his sponsored Land Rover at Cape Town International Airport in a jiffy.
So the answer is no, to all three of your questions. Players’ loyalty is diminishing as rapidly as that little gazelle on the left arm of their national jersey, I regret to inform you.
@ Pietman: a wise Oom Piet summary of events. It’s the way of the world I’m afraid. Driven by money and the highest pay cheque. The fool is the person who deems to think rugby is any different.
nortie wrote:
@ Pietman:
Sorry Tassies, something wrong here, I was replying to Nortie in #104, I don’t even have a Cabernet to blame!
Speaking of Cab, I wonder what happened to our old comrade blogger Cab?
@ nortie: again, I’m going to agree with you. Our S15 teams(with a few games as exceptions) were utter crap. The Bulls and the sharks particularly so. Next year we have the pathetic Kings to look forward to. Expect the first 100+ score in the history of the competition. Why? Simply because the quality of management has sunk to the lowest level in SA rugby history. They couldn’t plan their way out of a paper bag. Forward planning? What forward planning? If WP had a cohesive forward planning strategy of any quality, they would be playing Pollard at 10 in the Stormers unit today. Well, they didn’t and we can see the consequences today. That is but one glaring example.
@ Tassies:
It is not like SA teams have a legacy to protect in Super Rugby anyway 😆 with the odd exception here and there we have been utterly kak the last 20 years as a collective.
@ Pietman: I am so sorry that you’re unable to partake Piet. I’ll do my best to drink to your good health tomorrow, when I sip the other half of the bottle, now corked.
Cab? Now there’s a Keo legend. We enjoyed many late night chats. Some where I suspect he was stress-testing out a new vineyard’s output. Great entertainment and wonderful fun. I genuinely miss his good humour and banter.
@ MacroPolo: the track record has not been good. This year was the ultimate low point though. We’ve used every excuse bar the kitchen sink to explain away our miserable performances. Remember the travel issue, since gone away.
@ Tassies:
Zactly!!
I guess there is no point now in replacing the likes of Jurie Roux and Hoskins et al at SARU (or whatever SA rugby management call themselves nowadays), the horse has already bolted, I fear.
It would be like ousting the ANC, might be easy enough, but what about the aftermath? They, SARU, faarked up rugby develoment in the townships big time, starting with the Stofile, Gert Oosthuizen andthe Komphela regime in 2005. And now we have this other clown Fikile…
@ Tassies:
Yip, Cab, Skoppie, Sodajoe…legends of our time in the rugby blogging cyber sphere…
107 @ MacroPolo:
True Macro, when compared to the NZ sides, well, no real comparison…..however, we always like to believe that we have the wood over the Aussie sides and that they suck hind tit, but maybe it’s us?
We dismiss their conference and use the excuse that they have 2 sides in the final 6 because they get to play weaker sides twice, bit to be fair, it’s our conference that usually has the largest majority of weak teams.
Therein lies the mystery, supporters forget all that the moment the test matches start and think that donning the green and gold jersey automatically means smashing all comers.
We are not a bad rugby nation, in fact we are above average, but we are also not necessarily the best. And acknowledging that doesn’t mean we don’t support the team, it just means we accept that we have flaws, our coaching structures are not always up to scratch, we have other considerations when it comes to selecting sides and our players lack basic skills.
3 of our SR franchises need new coaches, first thing that happens is that we go through the list of all possible NZ coaches…..the Blues sack JK and the last thing on their mind is to come look for a SA coach.
Hell, Ludeke has 2 SR titles to his name, do you think any Antipodean side has even considered making him an offer?
@ Tassies:
I will be in Addis Ababa in two weeks, some good red and white wine there, compared to Saudi standards!
By the way, Castle Draught 500 ml in Addis is a mere R6…I paid R48 in Cape Town Airport Spur the other day!
@ Tassies:
and we cant even blame the quotas this year.
@ MacroPolo:
Nee, geensins!
112 @ nortie:
Except for the bulls that won 3 titles.
Oh and regarding the bok team, Lappies is also really unlucky to miss out again.
Zane
Hendricks
Mapoe
Waylon/Benjamin/Mnisi/ De Allende
Jantjies
Paige
Kolisi
Carr
Daai ander nuwe WP flank?
Oupa
Giant
Beast
Scarra
Ox…..
Hulle sal die kuk uit enige nie-kwota Bokspan uit speel!
@ MacroPolo:
@ MacroPolo:
Nee, geensins! @ Pietman:
Mvovo op ander vleuel.
I wonder out of all the young players leaving South Africa this year, how many would have stayed if it was the only way to be selected for the boks?
Flip
Jacquedup
Wiaan
Spies
Hougie
Jacque Louis
WSS
Brussouw
Sarel
Jean Cook
Sadie
Schalk vd Merwe
Jannie
Bissie
Alberts
Wright
Ginger
Rhodes
Greek
Howard
Would have stayed if SARU only selected locals for the Springboks?
Kitchoff?
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