Final Bok Squad for Inbound Tour

As taken from a South African rugby website, followed by Mallet's view on the squad. I am a Brussow fan so sorry he is not in the squad. The closest to a F Louw replacement and feel he offers more than Kolisi and Coetzee. Juan Smith would be in if he did not ask to be excused for this series. All in all, not bad but as usual back home there are many complaints around Zane's selection, no Reinach etc. Let's see how it goes!

Victor Matfield and Schalk Burger have been named in a 36-man Springbok squad that includes seven new caps.

The two World Cup winners haven't played for the Boks since 2011. There is also a return to the squad for Schalk Brits, Juan de Jongh, Francois Hougaard, Lwazi Mvovo and Frans Steyn, all of whom last played Test rugby in 2012.

The new caps are Damian de Allende, Lood de Jager, Cornal Hendricks, Teboho Mohoje, S’bura Sithole, Marcel van der Merwe and Callie Visagie.

In total, 12 players who started the final Test of 2013, where the Springboks beat France in Paris for the first time in 16 years, have been retained in the squad.

Notable omissions include Springbok captain Jean de Villiers, who is out with a knee injury, and Eben Etzebeth, who has been given more time to fully recover from the foot injury which has kept him sidelined this entire season. Heinrich Brüssow, who was in the Bok training squad, has not made the final squad.

The Springboks will also be without Adriaan Strauss, who has been suspended for three matches, as well as the experienced Jaque Fourie, who started all three Tests last November but has been ruled out with an ankle injury and Pat Lambie, a regular member of the squad for the past two years. Strauss will rejoin the squad for the final week of the incoming series when his suspension has ended.

'It’s never easy starting the international season without a number of key players, but it’s the same for our opponents as well and there are no excuses – we simply have to hit the ground running this week and make sure we start the season as well as possible,' said Meyer, who will name the interim captain next week. 'Injuries also provide opportunities for new players and from what I’ve seen at the training camp in Durban earlier this week, they are also raring to go.

'Oupa Mohoje got an opportunity at the Cheetahs following injuries to Lappies Labuschagne, Philip van der Walt and Jean Cook, and he took his chance. At the Sharks, Stephan Lewies came in for the injured Pieter-Steph du Toit and he came very close to inclusion in this squad.

Meyer said that all of the uncapped players deserved their opportunity.

'Damian, Cornal, Oupa, S’bura, Marcel and Callie have all been in great form recently for their various Super Rugby franchises, while Lood was very impressive before his injury and he underlined that with a great attitude and work ethic at the Durban camp. Some of them have been on the national selectors’ radar for a bit longer, while others have been very impressive at our training camp in Durban. They all deserve their selection and now it’s up to them to make the most of it.

'Damian and S’bura both bring utility value to the team, as they can play in more than one position in the backline. Cornal, who was the SA Sevens Player of the Year in 2013, is very fast and has a couple of very special attributes, so we’re very excited to work with him and hopefully improve him as a player.

'Upfront, we’ve been very impressed with Lood and Oupa recently. Lood is a no-nonsense lock who will learn a lot from Victor and Bakkies, while Oupa is a superb lineout option, very fast and good with the ball in hand.

'Marcel and Callie have been part of a resurgent Bulls pack recently and their play in the set pieces is very good. Marcel can play on both sides of the scrum, which makes him a valuable option in the squad, while he also carries the ball well and has shown he can steal ball at the breakdown. Callie brings superb lineout throwing and great scrumming power, while he is never shy to do the dirty work on the field.'

Meyer added that he is looking forward to welcoming Matfield and Burger back into the Bok fold.

'Last year we saw what it meant to Bakkies, Fourie and Jaque when they returned and they showed that age should not be any measure when it comes to Test rugby – if you have the goods and can perform at world-class level, you deserve to be selected. Victor and Schalk have both been out of the game for some time and for different reasons. A year ago, Schalk’s playing future was in doubt, so it’s great to have him back in the Bok fold and I’m looking forward to working with him for the first time. Their excitement at the Durban camp was palpable, but also contagious. The younger players fed off that and I know they will add a lot of value to the squad.'

On the inclusion of Brits he said: 'Schalk was part of our plans from the beginning. He is one of the best hookers in the world, is one of the nominees for European Cup Player of the Year and brings heaps of experience with him.'

Injured players who were not available for selection after featuring in 2013, are De Villiers, Etzebeth, Fourie (ankle), Lambie (bicep), Frans Malherbe (concussion), Scarra Ntubeni (foot), Chiliboy Ralepelle (knee), Frik Kirsten (neck), Pieter-Steph du Toit (knee), Franco van der Merwe (ankle), Arno Botha (knee), Pierre Spies (bicep), Louis Schreuder (hand) and Gio Aplon (elbow).

Juan Smith was also in the selection frame, but as he has been struggling with an injury in recent weeks, he requested the national selectors not to be considered.

Springbok squad – Willem Alberts, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Brits, Schalk Burger, Marcell Coetzee, Damian de Allende, Lodewyk de Jager, Juan de Jongh, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Fourie du Preez, JJ Engelbrecht, Johan Goosen, Bryan Habana, Cornal Hendricks, Francois Hougaard, Zane Kirchner, Siya Kolisi, Willie le Roux, Francois Louw, Victor Matfield, Teboho Mohoje, Tendai Mtawarira, Lwazi Mvovo, Coenie Oosthuizen, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Jan Serfontein, S’bura Sithole, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Frans Steyn, Morné Steyn, Flip van der Merwe, Marcel van der Merwe, Duane Vermeulen, Callie Visagie.

Mallet's view:

There's a strong blend of experience and youth. You've got Victor [Matfield], you've got Bakkies [Botha] back, Guthrö Steenkamp, Frans Steyn, Morné Steyn. A lot of players that Heyneke [Meyer] has counted on before, but then there's also the youngsters. Damian de Allende, [S'bura] Sithole, there's a great opportunity for Cornal Hendricks too, who has done well. There's 36 players, so its a very big squad and to be honest I don't think there are too many missing here. One could argue for [Heinrich] Brüssow but we all know Heyneke has his reasons. He doesn't really appreciate short loose forwards even though I think Brussow is a fantastic player.

'There's certainly enough talent there to do the job in this next month. I've always said that in spite of how the South African sides play in the Super Rugby campaign, we've always got the ability to pick 15 or 23 really strong individual players, despite the fact that we've had a few injuries.

'One of the hallmarks of Heyneke's selection has been loyalty and he sticks to people that he knows. So Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez and Victor Matfield, these are guys who have done the job for him before. I think over this month he has the opportunity to see whether the old guys can still do the job and give the younger players the opportunity to spend a month with the Springboks and learn the system.

'I think this tour will give him a great opportunity to get his structures into place and his starting team shouldn't differ much to what we've seen before. He is looking to establish a winning culture with the team so that they can go into the Rugby Championship in a confident frame of mind.'

You have to wonder what cereal Meyer is eating at the moment. Matfield as captain. Its loco... he shouldn't even be near the squad regardless of how decent he's been recently.

For me his choices are becoming worse than PDVs.

Soweto was a great game but it was very very naive on Meyer's count. Score 4 tries vs. the ABs and win in an open game? Was never going to happen... thats like asking Scotland if they would like to play on a fast dry pitch or a gale driven slugfest?

You don't play into the oppositions hands. It was utter failure and his captaincy choice of first JDV and now Matfield is a joke.

The ABs would have binned Bakkies, Matfield, Schalk, Habana, Du Preez, Fourie, JDV at the end of the world cup. They would have looked at the next world cup and said, sorry mate 2-3 years is not enough, if you can't make 4, go to Europe, get a pension and enjoy life.

The boks if they follow suit will be forced into either picking has-beens or green youngsters with little experience in major test rugby.
Either way its prone to failure.

Meyer has a 0-4 record vs. the ABs... and with the RC schedule its most probably going to be a 0-6 record come the end of the season... going into a RWC year.

That is not great. Who cares if PDVs lost to Ireland, Scotland etc... he had a top class record vs. the ABs. Its Wales coming up... with all respect the boks should have enough cover excluding the former greats to beat them 2-0 at home.

His foresight is pretty poor IMO.

2nd place in the world is fine. But in all honesty I would rather be in a situation like England.

They're 4th and SA are a better team but England are the one side that can legitimately trouble NZ, I just don't see that with SA and Meyer. He has the players but his ideas and crucially his choice of players are a little stale.

Got to put yourself in the position to beat the best and if that takes the odd loss where you test out new players vs. middling teams then so be it.

So when Wales win (ok ok allow me to dream a bit please) the series will the 'it was a weakened squad' role out

FA, although I do agree with you on many of your points you need to understand the situation SARU put their coaches in.

Firstly Meyer knows he is only going to be around for maximum of four years, so he does not give two hoots about developing more than he needs for the world cup.

Granted there are injuries that keeps top players out, but he isn't interested in developing any more players at the risk of losing matches, so with his game plan in mind, the plethora of Bulls players (old or not) he has his target set for the world cup, his conservative thinking does not allow him to risk more creative and younger players.

IF SARU, and this is a big if, decided to appoint our national coach for a period of 8 years, giving him one RWC as a fact finder and 8 years to build a squad, he would be in a much better position to develop players, as it is, in 4 years you take who you coached, who you belive in, and by hook or crook, you are stuck with those players.

Half the problem here is Meyer's conservative approach, and the other half of the problem is, after four years SARU will appoint a next coach.

The failing here, starts with SARU

 

bedfordwelsh wrote:So when Wales win (ok ok allow me to dream a bit please) the series will the 'it was a weakened squad' role out

Its not a weakened squad at all.

But by playing chaps like Matfield are not allowing a true captain to develop his authority they are prevented from blooding chaps who may be lesser than their contemporaries right this minute... but will be superior come 18 months time.

Its the John Smit scenario all over again.

fa,

So know excuses when we win when then (ok ok) lol

Biltong wrote:FA, although I do agree with you on many of your points you need to understand the situation SARU put their coaches in.

Firstly Meyer knows he is only going to be around for  maximum of four years, so he does not give two hoots about developing more than  he needs for the world cup.

Granted there are injuries that keeps top players out, but he isn't interested in developing any more players at the risk of losing matches, so with his game plan in mind, the plethora of Bulls players (old or not) he has his target set for the world cup, his conservative thinking does not allow him to risk more creative and younger players.

IF SARU, and this is a big if, decided to appoint our national coach for a period of 8 years, giving him one RWC as a fact finder and 8 years to build a squad, he would be in a much better position to develop players, as it is, in 4 years you take who you coached, who you belive in, and by hook or crook, you are stuck with those players.

Half the problem here is Meyer's conservative approach, and the other half of the problem is, after four years SARU will appoint a next coach.

The failing here, starts with SARU

The question is....

When do you build new sides? Their are 3 choices.

1 - NH end of season tour in SA.
2 - the RC
3 - SH end of season tour in Europe.

The easiest time is the NH end of season tour. SA are at home, they're not facing NZ. Its the best time.

Be forced to throw the armband to somelike Bissie in NZ and there is no time to develop authority.

bedfordwelsh wrote:fa,

So know excuses when we win when then (ok ok) lol

You been pinching from granddads old jamacian snuff box again?

You can let a man dream I guess

fa0019 wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:fa,

So know excuses when we win when then (ok ok) lol

You been pinching from granddads old jamacian snuff box again?

You can let a man dream I guess

We can but dream lol.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

fa0019 wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:fa,

So know excuses when we win when then (ok ok) lol

You been pinching from granddads old jamacian snuff box again?

You can let a man dream I guess

We can but dream lol.

on your day right?

In the end fire enough shots and one will hit eventually right?

fa0019 wrote:

Biltong wrote:FA, although I do agree with you on many of your points you need to understand the situation SARU put their coaches in.

Firstly Meyer knows he is only going to be around for  maximum of four years, so he does not give two hoots about developing more than  he needs for the world cup.

Granted there are injuries that keeps top players out, but he isn't interested in developing any more players at the risk of losing matches, so with his game plan in mind, the plethora of Bulls players (old or not) he has his target set for the world cup, his conservative thinking does not allow him to risk more creative and younger players.

IF SARU, and this is a big if, decided to appoint our national coach for a period of 8 years, giving him one RWC as a fact finder and 8 years to build a squad, he would be in a much better position to develop players, as it is, in 4 years you take who you coached, who you belive in, and by hook or crook, you are stuck with those players.

Half the problem here is Meyer's conservative approach, and the other half of the problem is, after four years SARU will appoint a next coach.

The failing here, starts with SARU

The question is....

When do you build new sides? Their are 3 choices.

1 - NH end of season tour in SA.
2 - the RC
3 - SH end of season tour in Europe.

The easiest time is the NH end of season tour. SA are at home, they're not facing NZ. Its the best time.

Be forced to throw the armband to somelike Bissie in NZ and there is no time to develop authority.

I fully agree with you, however Meyer doesn't give a toss.

At least PDV was willing to stick his neck out. He had a lot of faults but he had a roadmap to victory and a decision here or there and lets be honest it could have been realised.

Meyer seems to be content to build a squad that  could win the RWC, but probably won't. Its damage limitation rugby.

Come the RWC15 what will be the top backline by form???

9. van Zyl
10. Goosen
11. Le Roux
12. F. Steyn
13. Allende
14. Pietersen
15. Taute

That would be a proper backline for instance. A genuine no.9, size, pace and skill in the backline... and its a team which could take the ABs on their own game. Goosen needs to work on his game management but he can only do that with time... no point keeping faith with Morne as good as a kicker that he is

At the moment it could be

Du Preez
Steyn
Habana
De Villiers
Fourie/Engelbrecht
Pietersen
Le Roux

Its an old side, a tired side and you can't have that in your backline.... where is the zip?

I agree Meyer won't win the World Cup, he is taking players that failed in 2011 and they will fail again.

As PDV said the the sports committee prior to the world cup, these players can't play with guts and abandonment, won't take risks because they have a fear of failure.

I do however disagree with your chosen possible backline.

Le Roux is at his best at 15, at wing he doesn't get the opportunity to join the line as he would want as his positional play is more determined.

Whereas at fullback he has more freedom on attack.

Reinach has been the best SA scrum half by miles this season.

Lambie has shown an ability to get the Sharks backline on the front footl when he was there they scored tries, since his injury the Sharks have struggled on attack.

Midfield of Frans Steyn and De Allende will be an exciting one.

Wings you could look at anyone of Sithole, Engelbrecht, Paul Jordaan and the sevens youngster who has been called up (can't remember his name now.

That is our future, Taute is kak.