Heyneke Meyer has announced his Springbok squad for the November tour.
It is a squad of 36, bigger than usual, I suspect due to the overseas players who won’t be available for the match versus Wales which falls outside the Test window.
Front row
Robbie Coetzee (Golden Lions) – Hooker, uncapped
Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks) – Hooker, 66 Test caps
Jannie du Plessis (Sharks) – Prop, 60 Test caps
Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks) – Prop, 61 Test caps
Trevor Nyakane (FS Cheetahs) – Prop, 9 Test caps
Coenie Oosthuizen (FS Cheetahs) – Prop, 17 Test caps
Julian Redelinghuys (Golden Lions) – Prop, uncapped
Gurthrö Steenkamp (Toulouse, France) – Prop, 52 Test caps
Adriaan Strauss (FS Cheetahs) – Hooker, 40 Test caps
Second row
Bakkies Botha (Toulon, France) – Lock, 83 Test caps
Lodewyk de Jager (FS Cheetahs) – Lock, 7 Test caps
Eben Etzebeth (Western Province) – Lock, 29 Test caps
Victor Matfield (Blue Bulls) – Lock, 117 Test caps
Back row
Schalk Burger (Suntory, Japan) – Loose forward, 73 Test caps
Nizaam Carr (Western Province) – Loose forward, uncapped
Marcell Coetzee (Sharks) – Loose forward, 22 Test caps
Jaco Kriel (Golden Lions) – Loose forward, uncapped
Teboho ‘Oupa’ Mohoje (FS Cheetahs) – Loose forward, 3 Test caps
Duane Vermeulen (Western Province) – No 8, 25 Test caps
Warren Whiteley (Golden Lions) – Loose forward, 2 Test caps
Halfbacks
Francois Hougaard (Blue Bulls) – Scrumhalf, 32 Test caps
Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N Ireland) – Scrumhalf, 80 Test caps
Cobus Reinach (Sharks) – Scrumhalf, 2 Test caps
Flyhalves
Johan Goosen (Racing Metro, France) – Fullback / Flyhalf, 5 Test caps
Patrick Lambie (Sharks) – Flyhalf / Fullback, 36 Test caps
Handré Pollard (Blue Bulls) – Flyhalf, 6 Test caps
Morné Steyn (Stade Francais, France) – Flyhalf, 59 Test caps
Midfield
Damian De Allende (Western Province) – Centre / Wing, 2 Test caps
Jean de Villiers (captain, Western Province) – Centre, 102 Test caps
Jan Serfontein (Blue Bulls) – Centre, 16 Test caps
Back three
Bryan Habana (Toulon, France) – Wing, 103 Test caps
Cornal Hendricks (FS Cheetahs) – Wing, 9 Test caps
Willie le Roux (FS Cheetahs) – Fullback / Wing, 21 Test caps
Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks) – Wing, 9 Test caps
JP Pietersen (Panasonic, Japan) – Centre / Wing, 56 Test caps
Seabelo Senatla (SA Sevens/WP) – Wing, uncapped
The ‘What are you thinking?’
Gurthrö Steenkamp (Toulouse, France) – Prop, 52 Test caps
The ‘Wish you weren’t here and please age gracefully’
Victor Matfield (Vodacom Blue Bulls) – Lock, 117 Test caps
Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N Ireland) – Scrumhalf, 80 Test caps
Morné Steyn (Stade Francais, France) – Flyhalf, 59 Test caps
The ‘If you want them to last until next year then leave them at home’
Jannie du Plessis (Cell C Sharks) – Prop, 60 Test caps
Jean de Villiers (captain, DHL Western Province) – Centre, 102 Test caps
The ‘Congratulations boys, hope you get some time on the field’
Julian Redelinghuys (Xerox Golden Lions) – Prop, uncapped
Jaco Kriel (Xerox Golden Lions) – Loose forward, uncapped
Nizaam Carr (DHL Western Province) – Loose forward, uncapped
Seabelo Senatla (SA Sevens / DHL WP) – Wing, uncapped
The ‘Didn’t see that coming’
Robbie Coetzee (Xerox Golden Lions) – Hooker, uncapped
It looks like Meyer is considering Goosen as a back-up at fullback for Willie le Roux, which is not a bad option, apparently Goosen is playing most of his rugby at fullback in France. It can also help to reduce injuries as Goosen has been very injury prone at Flyhalf.
Rusty
Roar Guru
oh dear lots and lots of unknowns in there - its like they have to rebuild 70% of the squad each year...
I agree, Mohoje is here to stay.
Jacques
Guest
Mahoje was the starting blindside against Aus and NZ, I do not see Heyneke dropping him completely from the matchday squads for Engalnd and Ireland. Expect the mighty Schalk to start from the bench. The likes of Whitely, Carr and Kriel might get a run against Italy and / or Wales.
Aidan Loveridge
Roar Pro
When lambie played his worst game ever for my sharks in the super 15 semis i didnt think he deserved an international jersey in any way but to his credit he seems to have started making less aimless kicks and actually becoming useful to his team so i hope that translates into super rugby form next year also
Yeah, Gary Gold has been appointed, and Brendan Venter will be technical Director. Not so sure the Sharks game will evolve, we'll have to wait and see.
Digby
Roar Guru
Thanks mate. Any word/rumours on a Sharks coach?
Well Johan Ackerman had his contract extended to 2016, so the power that be seems to be happy with him. The biggest challenge for the Lions will be to have more depth, ut a few stars will make a lot of difference for them. I think the Cheetahs are going to struggle, this is their training squad, I am not sure if it is final. Forwards Willie Britz, Jean Cook, Carel Greeff, Nicky Steyn, Teboho Mohoje, Devin Oosthuizen, Tienie Burger, Armandt Koster, Heinrich Brussow, Johannes Prinsloo, Francois Uys, Carl Wegner, Jaco Nepgen, Freddie Ngoza, Lodewyk de Jager, Jonathan Adendorf, Maks van Dyk, Luan de Bruin, Rudolph Botha, Ewald van der Westhuizen, Heinrich Roelfse, Martin Bezuidenhout, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Ryno Barnes, Elandre Huggett, Coenie Oosthuizen, Caylib Oosthuizen, Bennie Uys, Danie Mienie Backs Willie le Roux, Coenie van Wyk, Clayton Blommetjies, Gouws Prinsloo, Aubrey McDonald, Johann Sadie, JP du Plessis, Nico Lee, JW Jonker, Vuyo Mboto, Joubert Engelbrecht, Francois Venter, Jonathan Francke, Rayno Benjamin, Raymond Rhule, Cornal Hendricks, Sergeal Petersen, Ederies Arendse, Danie Dames, Joe Pietersen, Francois Brummer, Willie du Plessis, Clinton Swart, Sarel Pretorius, Shaun Venter, Tian Meyer
Digby
Roar Guru
Thanks mate. Looking forward to how the Lions go next year, hopefully they can continue to build.
Don't know mate, there are still a lot of player movement currently as layers are changing allegiance, so far the Cheethas are losing out big time, Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane and Lappies Labuschagn has left for the Bulls, just this week the Bulls lost a number of players to the Lions which would be very welcome as they are trying to build a squad with depth. Sampie Mastriet is going to the Lions, but also top young players Marvin Orie, Rohan Janse van Rensburg and Lohan Jacobs.
Digby
Roar Guru
Hi BB, NZ super squads were finalised and announced today, when do the SA squads get announced?
Harry Jones
Expert
he's just kind of meh
Harry Jones
Expert
If we are moving on past someone, in the second row, it's Bakkies, I think.
OupaZiggy
Guest
I would not use Habana at inside centre which always needs an excellent defensive player. Habana's genius is his ability to score tries from seemingly impossible situations. Why put him a position which limits that genius?
OupaZiggy
Guest
Good on you Harry, support for golden oldies always appreciated. I also think that he brings a stabilising presence to the team which is not to discounted lightly. He instils confidence. However new and younger players need blooding or Bok rugby could fall into a big hole soon.
Rabbits
Guest
Springboks 2015 World Cup 1. Tendai Mtawarira 2. Adriaan Strauss 3. Coenie Oosthuizen 4. Eben Etzebeth 5. Willem Alberts 6. Francois Louw 7. Jaques Potgeiter 8. Duane Vermeulen 9.Francois Hougaard 10. Handre Pollard 11. JP Pietersen 12.Jan Serfontain 13. Damian de Allande 14. Bryan Habana 15. Willie le Roux 16. Gurthro Steenkamp 17. Bismark du Plessis 18. Flip Van de Merwe 19. Marcel Coetzee 20. Cobus Reinach 21. Pat Lambie 22. JJ Engelbrecht 23. Jannie du Plessis
Rabbits
Guest
What's the matter with Jaques Potgeiter? Surely if he wasn't injured he should be one of the flank/lock options?
Harry Jones
Expert
I would pick that exact team for Ire/Eng tests, too. Brilliant!
Jaque Fourie or Fourie du Preez? Jaque Fourie was very poor in November last year and currently injured, Fourie du Preez is injured.
Shouts Chen
Guest
What about Fourie?
Chan Wee
Guest
WTH is no one talking of Wales ??????? they could be the France of last RWC :)