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The Springbok squad for the Rugby Championship was announced just after the Chiefs vs Brumbies final.
It should be very concerning for any Springbok supporter that there are nine overseas based players in this squad.
It is understandable that the transfers to Europe and Japan has made a big impact on the selections options, but if this trend continues it won’t be long before the majority of a Springbok squad will be selected from abroad.
How does SARU expect supporters to identify with a team of players they don’t see playing during the regular season?
That is an aspect that certainly does not sit well with me at all.
There is no specialist back up for tighthead Jannie du Plessis, and it seems Heyneke Meyer is persisting with the idea of converting Coenie Oosthuizen into a tighthead, something that I expect will fail.
Bringing back Fourie du Preez signifies all you need to know about the tactics Meyer wants to employ, he is going to stick to the controlling halfback and territorial kicking game.
Does this mean that Fourie du Preez, after declining to join the Springboks last year is now back in the mind of Meyer for the 2015 World Cup?
His Japanese club has only released him for the first two tests in South Africa, so why on earth select him? Wouldn’t the match against Argentina no be the ideal opportunity to expose Piet van Zyl then?
Only a fool repeats the same actions expecting different results. In my view Springbok rugby is not going to evolve, and we will have the same issues of limited game plan during the tenure of Heyneke Meyer, don’t expect anything to change.
I am seriously asking the question whether SARU simply refuses to accept that Springbok rugby needs to evolve or know something I don’t.
Hopefully (albeit a slight hope) the Springboks will be smarter at the breakdowns and we see some freedom for Willie le Roux to create the unpredictable.
Loosehead props:
Tendai Mtawarira
Gurthro Steenkamp (overseas based)
Trevor Nyakane
Hookers:
Bismarck du Plessis
Adriaan Strauss
Chiliboy Ralapelle
Tighthead props:
Jannie du Plessis
Coenie Oosthuizen
Second row:
Eben Etzebeth
Juandre Kruger (overseas based)
Flip v d Merwe
Franco v d Merwe
Backrowers:
Siya Kolisi
Marcell Coetzee
Francois Louw (overseas based)
Willem Alberts
Duane Vermeulen
Halfbacks:
Fourie du Preez (overseas based)
Ruan Pienaar (overseas based)
Jano Vermaak (overseas based)
Flyhalves:
Morne Steyn (overseas based)
Patrick Lambie
Midfielders:
Jean de Villiers
JJ Engelbrecht
Jan Serfontein
Juan de Jongh
Back three:
Bryan Habana (overseas based)
Willie le Roux
Bjorn Basson
Zane Kirchner (overseas based)
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.