Zimbabwe-born prop Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira was included in a 28-man South Africa squad named Saturday for the away leg of the Tri-Nations southern hemisphere championship.
Mtawarira earned 15 caps for the Springboks before he was controversially excluded from South Africa’s first four Tests this year after the sports ministry said he should be excluded as he was not a South African citizen.
His return to the squad for the defending champions came a day after it was announced he had been granted citizenship.
The Springboks start their campaign against New Zealand in Auckland on July 10, play New Zealand again in Wellington the following weekend and Australia in Brisbane on July 24.
Mtawarira and utility back Francois Hougaard are the only players in the squad who were not involved in recent Test wins against Wales, France and Italy (twice).
The only player to miss out from the squad that did duty in a 55-11 win over Italy in East London Saturday is reserve lock Flip van der Merwe.
“It’s a strong squad,” said Springbok coach Peter de Villiers. “We are fortunate to have so many of our frontline players fit and available, which shows our management of the players is working well.
“There is a very strong core of experience in this group and there are several leaders too.”
De Villiers said that although the Tri-Nations in itself was a tough tournament, the coming tour assumed added significance because the World Cup is being played in New Zealand next year.
Squad
Backs: Gio Aplon, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Butch James, Ricky Januarie, Zane Kirchner, Wynand Olivier, Ruan Pienaar, Morne Steyn
Forwards: Andries Bekker, Bakkies Botha, BJ Botha, Schalk Burger, Jannie du Plessis, Ryan Kankowski, Francois Louw, Victor Matfield, Tendai Mtawarira, Dewald Potgieter, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Danie Rossouw, John Smit (capt), Pierre Spies, Gurthro Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde
Amorita Maharaj
Roar Rookie
So excitied for the Tri-Nations games this weekend..... Go SpringBoks!
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
Sure, totally different players, Rusty, and a good thought on the lineout. On the other hand this is an opportunity for somebody like Spies to develop his game and add an aerial dimension. Incidentally, I think Van Niekerk is twice the number 8 that Kankowski is. I really don't think Kankowski has a place in test rugby... currently. Back to the squad, a player like Smith is tried and tested. The opposition knows what he does, whereas the inclusion of Potgieter and/or Louw might necessitate a different approach from the opposition. I also like the idea of bringing in good young players into a winning team. It tends to lift the entire squad if they play well, just as Brussow did last season. I think it's a good squad. There's still a few journeymen (Du Plessis, Kirchner, Ralepelle etc), but overall there's a good blend of youth and experience. Also, given how Botha has shored up the scrum it will be interesting to see how other teams play now. SA conceded quite a few scrum penalties during the last 3N, and if this isn't likely anymore then SA may very well end up with a consecutive 3N title.
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
I'm not sure what would motivate you to ask those questions? Certainly nothing in my statement infers as much. What I said is pretty straightforward. Very straightforward in fact.
Socboy
Guest
Are you trying to tell me that the side that still put Wales in there place at Hamilton was the same side that absolutely thrashed them a week earlier in Carisbrook? Are you trying to tell me that a full strength Wales would have beaten the line up that started in Hamilton let alone a full strength All Blacks? Are you trying to tell me that the Team that decimated France at the end of last year would have gone to Wales? A full Strength Wales has struggled to beat the All Blacks for over 50 years. The All Blacks and Wallabies have played better quality opposition than the Boks have in the last few weeks and I believe the All Blacks have been far more impressive in their outings than the Boks. Like I said I wouldn't get too carried away with the Boks just yet. No one is denying they are a good team, just questioning how they rate themselves so highly when in acutality their recent tests results and that of the November tours suggest otherwise!
Rusty
Roar Guru
Im with you on those accounts. Juan is a massive massive loss - the quiet unsung over achiever if you like but I really like what I see in Louw. He doesnt carry as much as Smith but Burger seems to have taken up that part of the game while Louw is playing more in the loose. Biggest drawback I can see is loss of a true lineout option
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
NZ put 29 points on a Wales XV minus Gethin Jenkins, Martyn Williams, Stephen Jones, Shane WIlliams, James Hook. Further, aside from the 13 and 12 jerseys the NZ side that beat Wales in the 2nd test was basically last season's side. I'm not sure that result has any bearing on the 3N or the WC.
Socboy
Guest
The Boks whilst a good team played the ABs twice at homelast year and only beat them by three points in New Zealand. I am a little baisied of course but there isn't as much daylight between the Boks and the ABs as you like to think their is. I think the Boks will be shown up this year whilst on the road. The ABs have dealt both their oponents severe beatings in the lead up tests. They still mangaed to put 29 points on the Welsh after making 7 changes to their starting lineup. All this whilst missing Smith and Nonu. When you also take into account the likes of Siviatu and Andrew Hore who will be missing from this campaign I don't think the Boks winning the WC is a given
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
Juan Smith is a real loss, IMO, as, obviously, is Brussow, but I get the impression that Louw and Potgieter bring a real energy to the side, and their youth may be just the final push that SA need prior to the WC. Looking forward to see if F. Hougaard get's a crack too.
Jerry
Guest
The fact that it's in the Tri-Nations.
Rusty
Roar Guru
After trekking out there to see the Boks and Stormers I am going to pass on Bundy town this year. Will hope for a test in Sydney or Melbourne next year and head out to that
GPR-SA
Guest
Yup - Rusty, tend to agree with you. Remeber not only do the boks suffer at Suncorp but look at the perfomances of the SA super 14 teams both this and last year. If they do however win at Suncorp, then they are in for a chance at the tri nations title. Can't stand the arrogance of some Saffers (as an Saffer myself I have the right to say that ), already claiming both the tri nations and World cup crown!! As for the world cup - still a long way off and I certainly don't want to be predicting any winners at this stage of the game. My opinion is that other the AB's will be very difficult to beat at Home. I don't care what anyone says they are still a great team. I look forward to hopefully watching the game live at Suncorp.
Rusty
Roar Guru
the biggest hurdle for the Boks this year will be the schedule. The two tough starts in NZ followed up with a visit to the ongoing graveyard for Bok teams Suncorp stadium. A realistic expectation would be 1 win with a second a massive bonus. Preferrably the win will be in NZ as given the ongoing mental block its unlikely the Wallabies will beat the ABs
Suzy Poison
Guest
Agree Ziggy. Du Preez is the world's best player, and it will be a struggle to replace him. Januarie is nowhere near Du Preez, but probably at least on par with Luke Burgess. However, if you look at the other 27 players in the squad it's fair to say, this is probably the most experienced and hardened pack of players ever to tour. I would be surprised if the Boks don't win one or two of the three away games, and then clean up at home. Australia simply don't have the cattle in the forwards to compete with the likes of Spies, Burger, Bakkies, Matfield and Smit in the forwards. These guys have been there and done that, World Cup, Tri-Nations and most played in the Super 14 final. What have Australian forwards achieved? Will be interesting to see how Quade Cooper likes to defend his channel, because he aint gonna be getting any clean ball, to play with.
Brian
Guest
struggle against who? The All Blacks? beat them 3-zip last year. The Wallabies??? Don't make me larf.......... this Bok team is in line to retain the World Cup.
van der Merwe
Guest
1-1 is a drawn series. In the traditional sense, Jerry is correct. All three games would have to be played in one country to count as a proper Test series.
van der Merwe
Guest
That's to Steyn's credit in spite of the quality (or lack thereof) of service he is getting from Januarie. If by offering more "mongrel" you mean gawking at thin air and/or bossing teammates around while the opposition arranges its defensive line before getting shoved on your arse, then I tend to agree that Ricky brings something to the table.
James
Guest
So when France won the Gallagher cup in nz last year that wasn't a series either? Or is it not the number of games but the fact that it's the tri nations?
Jerry
Guest
It's not a chance to win a series in NZ cause it's not a series in NZ.
nicksa
Guest
ziggy although du preez is a fantastic player, he is just one man. This is an awesome chance for the springboks to win a series in NZ! Good luck to the boys.
Laurens K
Guest
Decent team, will be interesting to see how some of the new men play, example Francois Louw and whoever Div picks at fullback. We did look a bit one dimensional against Italy in my humble opinion though