Exciting young talent in two Springbok tour squads

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ANA Sports Reporter
BLOEMFONTEIN, October 22 (ANA) – Several promising young players who have shot to prominence on the domestic scene this year, have been included in the 30-man Springbok squad for the international clash against the Barbarians on 5 November at the Wembley Stadium in London.

This match is being played outside the international window and thus only South African based players could be selected. The squad for the Barbarians consists of 12 uncapped players, while the rest of the group performed duty in the recent Castle Lager Rugby Championship.

The uncapped players are Lizo Gqoboka (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks), RG Snyman (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Roelof Smit (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Jean-Luc du Preez (Cell C Sharks), Uzair Cassiem (Toyota Free State Cheetahs), Tian Schoeman (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Francois Venter (Toyota Free State Cheetahs), Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Xerox Golden Lions), Sergeal Petersen (Toyota Free State Cheetahs), Jamba Ulengo (Vodacom Blue Bulls) and Cheslin Kolbe (DHL Western Province).

Of these players, Gqoboka, Du Toit, Snyman, Du Preez, Venter and Petersen featured for the SA A team against the touring England Saxons in June.

However, the Boks have been dealt a number of injury blows with experienced players Francois Hougaard, Juan de Jongh, Francois Louw and Julian Redelinghuys, all of whom featured during the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, ruled out.

Springbok coach Allister Coetzee also explained that after discussions with Duane Vermeulen, it was decided that his conditioning is not up to international standard since his recent return from injury. He will also return to South Africa in November to be with his wife when the couple’s second child is born.

As a result, flankers Smit and Du Preez, Petersen (wing) and Venter (centre) will remain with the Springbok squad for the remainder of the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour, while the rest of the uncapped players return home after the opening match.

The Bok squad was further boosted by the return of Ruan Combrinck, who has recovered from the leg injury which ruled him out for most of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, as well as the inclusion of the experienced JP Pietersen and Jannie du Plessis, both of whom were not involved in the most recent campaign.

Meanwhile, Coetzee said he is looking to working with the group of young players in the build-up to the Barbarians match.

“It is great to have such a big group of young, exciting players with us for the Barbarians match. I view this as a great opportunity to start building for the future. The selection of many of these players are part of our road map for 2019,” said Coetzee.

“They are identified as part of our succession planning going forward. Their selection in the Springbok squad is a reward for their consistently good performances this year, at both Vodacom Super Rugby and Currie Cup level.

“The match against the Barbarians is a great occasion for them to show that they belong on this level. It is an opportunity to show their class on the highest level and to gain experience of international rugby.

“My message to them would be to make it impossible for me to ignore them for future selections and to embrace this well-deserved opportunity.”

The Springbok coach added: “Francois, Jean-Luc, Sergeal and Roelof will stay behind as part of the Springbok squad for the Tests against England, Italy and Wales. It will be good for them to experience the ethos of the Springboks while on tour and with strong performances, I am sure that they will be involved on a regular basis with the Springboks in the future.

“It is also very pleasing to see the return JP and Jannie, as their experience will be vital for us, as well as Ruan, who is now fully fit again. They are welcome additions to the squad because we have a long list of injured players who are unfortunately not available for selection,” said Coetzee.

With several tightheads out injured at the moment, there is a recall for the experienced Jannie du Plessis: “We have been hit hard with injuries in that position. Frans, Julian, Coenie and a contender such as Ruan Dreyer are all injured at the moment, while several of the other experienced tightheads are playing overseas,” explains Coetzee.

The following players, who were part of Bok squads earlier this year, were not considered for the tour because of injuries: Lwazi Mvovo, Juan de Jongh, Francois Hougaard, Francois Louw, Siya Kolisi, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Frans Malherbe, Julian Redelinghuys and Scarra Ntubeni.

“Apart from those players, other experienced campaigners such as Jan Serfontein, Handré Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Marcell Coetzee, Coenie Oosthuizen and Bismarck du Plessis are also not available,” added Coetzee.

Regarding the challenge of playing in the northern hemisphere, the Springbok coach said: “We know that playing during winter in the northern hemisphere is always a huge challenge. The conditions are different and it requires an even more physical and tactical battle and all Test matches played in Europe were almost always decided by small margins in the past.”

“Yes, we have a long injury list, but we prefer to see it as an amazing opportunity for the players selected in the squad. We are looking forward to turning things around on tour against quality opposition,” said Coetzee.

Adriaan Strauss is the captain and leads both squads in his last Springbok tour before his retirement from international rugby.

The Springbok squad for the Barbarians match is:
Lourens Adriaanse, Prop, Cell C Sharks, 4 Test caps
Nizaam Carr, Flank / No 8, DHL Western Province, 2 Test caps
Uzair Cassiem, Flank, Toyota Free State Cheetahs, 0 Test caps
Ruan Combrinck, Wing, Xerox Golden Lions, 4 Test caps
Damian de Allende, Centre, DHL Western Province, 20 Test caps
Lood de Jager, Lock, Toyota Free State Cheetahs, 25 Test caps
Faf de Klerk, Scrumhalf, Xerox Golden Lions, 8 Test caps
Jean-Luc du Preez, Flank, Cell C Sharks, 0 Test caps
Thomas du Toit, Prop, Cell C Sharks, 0 Test caps
Pieter-Steph du Toit, Lock, DHL Western Province, 17 Test caps
Eben Etzebeth, Lock, DHL Western Province, 53 Test caps
Lizo Gqoboka, Prop, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 0 Test caps
Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Centre, Xerox Golden Lions, 0 Test caps
Cheslin Kolbe, Fullback / Wing, DHL Western Province, 0 Test caps
Jesse Kriel, Centre / Fullback, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 17 Test caps
Pat Lambie, Flyhalf / Fullback, Cell C Sharks, 53 Test caps
Malcolm Marx, Hooker, Xerox Golden Lions, 1 Test cap
Bongi Mbonambi, Hooker, DHL Western Province, 3 Test caps
Oupa Mohoje, Flank, Toyota Free State Cheetahs, 14 Test caps
Tendai Mtawarira, Prop, Cell C Sharks, 84 Test caps
Trevor Nyakane, Prop, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 26 Test caps
Rudy Paige, Scrumhalf, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 5 Test caps
Sergeal Petersen, Wing, Toyota Free State Cheetahs, 0 Test caps
Tian Schoeman, Flyhalf, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 0 Test caps
RG Snyman, Lock, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 0 Test caps
Roelof Smit, Flank, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 0 Test caps
Adriaan Strauss (captain), Hooker, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 63 Test caps
Jamba Ulengo, Wing, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 0 Test caps
Piet van Zyl, Scrumhalf, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 2 Test caps
Francois Venter, Centre, Toyota Free State Cheetahs, 0 Test caps
The Springbok squad for the 2016 Castle Lager Outgoing Tour Tests against England, Italy and Wales):
Willem Alberts, Flank, Stade Français, France, 41 Test caps
Ruan Combrinck, Wing, Xerox Golden Lions, 4 Test caps
Damian de Allende, Centre, DHL Western Province, 20 Test caps
Lood de Jager, Lock, Toyota Free State Cheetahs, 25 Test caps
Faf de Klerk, Scrumhalf, Xerox Golden Lions, 8 Test caps
Jannie du Plessis, Prop, Montpellier, France, 70 Test caps
Jean-Luc du Preez, Flank, Cell C Sharks, 0 Test caps
Pieter-Steph du Toit, Lock, DHL Western Province, 17 Test caps
Eben Etzebeth, Lock, DHL Western Province, 53 Test caps
Johan Goosen, Fullback / Flyhalf / Centre, Racing 92, France, 10 Test caps
Bryan Habana, Wing, Toulon, France, 123 Test caps
Jaco Kriel, Flank, Xerox Golden Lions / Kubota Spears, 7 Test caps
Elton Jantjies, Flyhalf, Xerox Golden Lions / NTT Communications, 9 Test caps
Steven Kitshoff, Prop, Bordeaux-Bègles, France, 7 Test caps
Vincent Koch, Prop, Saracens, England, 7 Test caps
Jesse Kriel, Fullback / Centre, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 17 Test caps
Pat Lambie, Fullback / Flyhalf, Cell C Sharks, 53 Test caps
Willie le Roux, Fullback, Canon Eagles, Japan, 39 Test caps
Lionel Mapoe, Centre, Xerox Golden Lions / Kubota Spears, 9 Test caps
Malcolm Marx, Hooker, Xerox Golden Lions, 1 Test cap
Bongi Mbonambi, Hooker, DHL Western Province, 3 Test caps
Franco Mostert, Lock, Xerox Golden Lions / Ricoh Black Rams, 4 Test caps
Tendai Mtawarira, Prop, Cell C Sharks, 84 Test caps
Trevor Nyakane, Prop, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 26 Test caps
Oupa Mohoje, Flank, Toyota Free State Cheetahs, 14 Test caps
Rudy Paige, Scrumhalf, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 5 Test caps
Sergeal Petersen, Wing, Toyota Free State Cheetahs, 0 Test caps
JP Pietersen, Wing / Centre, Leicester Tigers, 69 Test caps
Roelof Smit, Flank, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 0 Test caps
Adriaan Strauss (captain), Hooker, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 63 Test caps
Francois Venter, Centre, Toyota Free State Cheetahs, 0
Piet van Zyl, Scrumhalf, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 2 Test caps
Warren Whiteley, No 8, Xerox Golden Lions / NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes, 12 – African News Agency (ANA)