Eight Vodacom Bulls players have been named in an extended Springbok squad named on Saturday. The only new Bulls player to the set-up will be Jesse Kriel, who has been called into the squad for the first time.
Rudy Paige, who joined the Boks on tour last year, but did not play, got the nod again.
In all, there are eight uncapped players in extended Springbok squad, including former Vodacom Blue Bulls player, Vincent Kock, now plying his trade with the Steval Pumas.
The selection of eight uncapped players and the return of a further six are the features of the Springbok squad named on Saturday for the five matches leading up to the Rugby World Cup later this season.
In addition to the 36 squad members, the national selectors have identified 13 players who are currently injured or will be in rehabilitation, but will form part of an extended squad for the matches against the World XV, Castle Lager Rugby Championship and the Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
The uncapped players in the squad are Scarra Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Rudy Paige, Faf de Klerk, Jesse Kriel, Franco Mostert and Lionel Mapoe.
Back in the Springbok fold after not featuring in any Springbok Tests last year, are Elton Jantjies, Frans Steyn, Jaque Fourie, Heinrich Brüssow, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Heinke van der Merwe.
The currently injured players included in the squad are Springbok captain Jean de Villiers, Mapoe, Brüssow, Du Toit, Steyn, Coenie Oosthuizen, Lood de Jager, Duane Vermeulen, Cobus Reinach, Pat Lambie, Jaque Fourie, Jan Serfontein and Fourie du Preez. The latter suffered a knee injury while training with his Japanese club earlier this week.
“It’s a long list of injured players but all of them are in the selection frame and we’d like to work with them to assist with their rehabilitation,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
“Some of them are close to full fitness and they will start training as soon as possible. We’ll assess and manage all the injured players individually with their return to play in mind and will do what is the best for the player and the team, even if it means that some of them play for their clubs or provinces if deemed necessary by our medical team and in consultation with their unions.
“Coenie Oosthuizen has been selected, but he has a neck injury which will rule him out of joining the squad immediately. We will wait for medical clarity to ensure we do what is best for Coenie before a decision is made on the way forward.
“Even though Jaque Fourie announced that he had retired from Test rugby late last year, we have had positive talks with him and his club, Kobe in Japan, and an agreement was reached that he will be available for one last season of Test rugby. As soon as he’s back to full fitness, we’ll consider him for selection.
“Jean de Villiers’ rehabilitation is going very well but his return to play will be strictly monitored before an announcement in this regard is made.”
Ntubeni (hooker), Paige (scrumhalf) and Mapoe (outside back) have been part of Springbok tour squads before, but this will be the first involvement at international level for De Klerk (scrumhalf), as well as Mostert (lock), Kitshoff and Koch (both props).
Meyer added that Vodacom Super Rugby form weighed heavily and as always there were a number of players who were desperately close to selection, but just missed out in the end.
“This is testament to the great depth we’ve managed to build in most positions over the last few years. It’s good to know we have players outside this squad who will be able to slot in should it be necessary,” said the Springbok coach.
“Scarra has been with us before and he has done a great job specifically in the scrums with Vincent, Steven and Frans Malherbe for the DHL Stormers this year.
“Lionel, Franco, Faf and Elton have been part of the ever-improving Emirates Lions, while Rudy and Jesse grabbed their opportunities for the Vodacom Bulls this season.
Meyer added that he was pleased to have Van der Merwe, Du Toit, Brüssow, Steyn and Fourie back with the Springboks.
“They are players with international experience and we know what they can do. It will be great to welcome them back into the Springbok fold and I know they will add value,” said the Springbok coach.
“It was great to see players such as Morné, Heinke, Bryan, Schalk Brits and Francois play in and win finals with their clubs in Europe.”
“We also talked to Andries Bekker as we wanted to consider him for selection, but upon a request from his club in Japan he was ultimately not picked for the squad at this stage. Hopefully he will be available at a later stage during the season.
“Flip van der Merwe was on our radar but ultimately he has decided to rule himself out of Springbok contention.”
Meyer said that he didn’t want to go into the 2015 Test season without exploring all options available to the Springboks.
“We will be guided by our medical team and specialists to ensure no stone is left unturned as we manage the injured players’ return to play. The players who have been included in the squad because of injuries to others must use this opportunity to break down the door to ensure they remain part of the squad as we look forward to the World Cup.
“As certain players regain fitness, others will be sent back to their provinces, but that doesn’t mean they are out of our thinking completely as the door to World Cup selection will never be fully closed. We talked to every player we thought could add value and considered every option available to us.
“The next five matches, before we finalise the squad for the Rugby World Cup, will be very important as we want to ensure the right 31 players are on the plane to England on September 11.
“We have done a lot of planning and research and are well-prepared for the season. We’ll use the matches against the World XV, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina to fine tune where necessary, but the next two months also provide the players with an opportunity to put themselves in contention to make the World Cup squad.”
The Springbok squad is (in alphabetical order wth franchise/club, position and caps):
Willem Alberts, Cell C Sharks, Loose forward, 32
Schalk Brits, Saracens, Hooker, 7
Schalk Burger, DHL Stormers/Suntory, Loose forward ,75
Marcell Coetzee, Cell C Sharks, Loose forward, 26
Damian de Allende, DHL Stormers, Centre, 3
Faf de Klerk, Emirates Lions/Steval Pumas, Scrumhalf, 0
Bismarck du Plessis, Cell C Sharks, Hooker, 70
Jannie du Plessis, Cell C Sharks, Prop, 62
Eben Etzebeth, DHL Stormers, Lock, 33
Elton Jantjies, Emirates Lions, Flyhalf, 2
Bryan Habana, Toulon, Wing, 106
Cornal Hendricks, Toyota Cheetahs, Wing, 11
Zane Kirchner, Leinster, Wing/Fullback, 29
Steven Kitshoff, DHL Stormers, Prop, 0
Vincent Koch, DHL Stormers/Steval Pumas, Prop, 0
Siya Kolisi, DHL Stormers, Loose forward, 10
Jesse Kriel, Vodacom Bulls, Fullback, 0
Willie le Roux, Toyota Cheetahs, Fullback/Wing, 25
Francois Louw, Bath, Loose forward, 34
Frans Malherbe, DHL Stormers, Prop, 4
Victor Matfield, Vodacom Bulls, Lock, 121
Teboho “Oupa” Mohoje, Toyota Cheetahs, Loose forward, 7
Franco Mostert, Emirates Lions, Lock, 0
Tendai Mtawarira, Cell C Sharks, Prop, 64
Lwazi Mvovo, Cell C Sharks, Wing, 10
Scarra Ntubeni, DHL Stormers, Hooker, 0
Trevor Nyakane, Vodacom Bulls, Prop, 13
Rudy Paige, Vodacom Bulls, Scrumhalf, 0
Ruan Pienaar, Ulster, Scrumhalf, 80
JP Pietersen, Cell C Sharks, Centre/Wing, 59
Handré Pollard, Vodacom Bulls, Flyhalf, 9
Morné Steyn, Stade Francais, Flyhalf, 59
Adriaan Strauss, Vodacom Bulls, Hooker, 44
Heinke van der Merwe, Stade Francais, Prop, 4
Marcel van der Merwe, Vodacom Bulls, Prop, 4
Warren Whiteley, Emirates Lions, Loose forward, 2
Injured/Conditioning squad:
Heinrich Brüssow, Toyota Cheetahs/Docomo, Loose forward, 20
Lood de Jager, Toyota Cheetahs, Lock, 9
Jean de Villiers, DHL Stormers, Centre, 106
Fourie du Preez, Suntory, Scrumhalf, 70
Pieter-Steph du Toit, Cell C Sharks, Lock, 2
Jaque Fourie, Kobe, Centre, 72
Patrick Lambie, Cell C Sharks, Flyhalf/Fullback, 40
Lionel Mapoe, Emirates Lions, Centre, 0
Coenie Oosthuizen, Toyota Cheetahs, Prop, 21
Cobus Reinach, Cell C Sharks, Scrumhalf, 6
Jan Serfontein, Vodacom Bulls, Centre, 20
Frans Steyn, Cell C Sharks, Centre, 53
Duane Vermeulen, DHL Stormers, No 8, 29
Jesse Kriel isn't the finished article, on tour and particularly under pressure he looked a bit naive on attack his decision making, defence and tactical acumen was not up scratch he can only get better though.
Ouch Hougaard is a massive surprise for me, Mvovo, Hendricks are utter bobbins on defence, Hougaard has heart he is not scared to put his body on the line, tattoo boy can TACKLE.
It's no surprise really, Morne Steyn's reliable boot virtually won him a place in the squad.
Heyneke Meyer has already made up his mind, Vermuelen, Schalk, Coetzee, Alberts and Louw are the first choice loose forwards...Jaco Kriel is just unlucky.
I'll not be fooled by Paige he's a "fly-by-night" scrumhalf, as a bulls supporter he let me down big time in NZ.
Main candidate at BBR does not want to work with the CEO - for interesting reasons.
I hope the new coach would refuse to work with XvR as well. No way we will see a ANZAC coach at Loftus.
Word has it that Nollis has had "one on ones" with the candidates for his Currie Cup team - and there will no nonsense. Committed to pick the best players available. Seems so logical doesn't it.
He has selected quite a large group - more than 40 - and I believe everyone has bought into his vision.
Unfortunately quite a few of the players will pack their bags at the end of October 2015.
It is sad to see how many of the Springboks at BBR lost favour with the Bok selectors.
Hougaard Basson JJE PvZ Arno Spies. Lappies
Serfontein is lucky to be there judging how well De Allende played - and could easily be left out of the squad of 31 if Jean and Jacques F is ready to play.
Same for Pollard with a fit Lambie and Morne ( best place kicker) Steyn. Frans Steyn could be a utility being able to play 10 12 13 and 15.
Interesting times ahead.
Baie teleurgesteld dat Hougaard nie in die Bok groep is nie. Hy kan skrummie en vleuel dek en hy het die jaar goed gedoen op vleuel. Ek hoop nie dit speel n rol in sy keuse of hy gaan terugkeer na die Bulle vir volgende jaar se Super 15 reeks nie.
Baie jammer vir Jaco Kriel en Ruan Combrink van die Leeus dat hulle nie in die groep is nie.
Wat my net bekommerd maak is die klompm ou manne en beseerdes in die groep. Kom ek wees positief en hoop hulle verras my
Baie geluk aan die Hurricanes en Highlanders met hul wenne vandag.
Ek was n groot Jonah Lomu en Christian Cullen fan so ek hoop maar die Hurricanes wen die eindstryd.
If Heyneke Meyer picked Hougaard Basson JJE PvZ Arno Spies and Lappies there would have been a public outcry...simply because on a personal level he knows the players well.....Da Allende is suspect on defence.......and on top of that he's greedy...not everything is about breaking the line...he has poor decision making....Jan on tour was super!!!
Looking at his team, Heyneke goes for versitality and experience in terms of Full back, Wing, outside centre, and 7 and 6's. (especially 6's who are able to play at 7 too). Players who have shown that they cover those areas well, made the team.
I think his biggest problem is injuries and especially depth at Lock, nr. 5. Etzebeth started to play better in the last 3 matches, but overall, he was disappointing. Flip vd Merwe's resignation from the Boks was as disapointing too, but one always got the impression that these top guys held back a bit because of the World Cup, just as in 2011. I don't know if Pieter Steph will recover in time to be in top form.
Shocking decision to leave out the experienced Hougaard after the Bulls had a dismal last 5 consecutive games. Hougaard was a stand-out player in a team that lacked domination up front. Where Pollard, Serfontein, JJE just slipped backwards, this guy as well as Basson gave it all. He had perhaps one or two bad moments in the series, but I really thought he did very well on the wing. And that is because the Bulls never wanted to play him at nr. 9 in the first place.
I am very happy for someone like Vincent Koch, who went from Tuks, Little Bit of Bulls, Pumas and excelled at the Stormers. I spoke to a few of his direct opponents this season, and all them agreed that Koch has turned the Stormers scrum into a competitive machine. Pity the Bulls ranking culture threw players like these away.
I also agree with Muzi on Sefontein, he will be very lucky if he is selected at 12. I cannot see him above de Villiers, de Allende or Steyn, unless there is a problem with injuries. The same on 13.
But Muzi, de Allende is indeed greedy with the ball, but he almost always breaks the line. if he can let go of the oval ball, he will develop into a fine player.
So,
the full backs: Willie Le Roux. Zane Kirchener and Jesse Kriel.
Wings: Brian Habana, Cornall Hendricks, JP Pietersen (also Centre), Mvovu
Centres: Damian de Allende, Jan Serfontein, Frans Steyn, Jean de Villiers, Lionel Mapoe, Jacque Fourie
Fly halves: Morne Steyn, Pollard, Lambie, Elton Jantjes
Scrum Halves: Fourie du Prees, Cobus Reinach, Ruan Pienaar, Rudi Paige
Nr. 8: Duane Vermeuelen, Whitley
Nr. 7: Alberts, Mohoje
nr. 6: Louw, Kolisi, Coetzee, Burger, Brussouw
Nr. 5: Victor Matfield, Franco Mostert
Nr. 4: Pieter Steph du Toit, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth
Nr. 2: Bismark, Strauss, Britz, Ntubeni,
Nr. 1: Nyakane, C Oosthuizen, B Mtwarira, S Kitchoff
Nr. 3: Du plessis, Koch, H vd Merwe, M vd Merwe, F Malherbe, V Koch
Wel miskien is dit n goeie ding. Kry eers die kontrak geteken en se dan wie kom. Miskien word ons surprise en kom daar n ster of twee.
Ek se nog steeds dat ons vir WSS moet behou en Vincent Koch en Marcell Coetzee probeer kry.
I hope Nollis Marais can manage to convince Swanepoel, and WSS to stay....Daniel Kriel singed a new contract with Jesse last year...
Heyneke has been playing retreads for ever. Jaco Taute, JP Jan -Kirschner- its a bloody joke. This was after his JJ selection.
He has Jean de Jongh, Francios Venter and a fit again WSS at his disposal for the first few games.
JJ will never see Bok selection again unless Ludeke becomes the next Bok coach.
I am so the bliksem in with Ludeke and his 17 games in a row selection of JJE on 13, and not giving anyone else a chance.
This lead directly to Hougaard and Basson not making selection - they never saw a ball - if Odendaal did not crash and bash JJ knocked or ran so skew or passed so badly they could do nothing with it.
Blue Bull rugby under FL was the burial gound of backline players talents.
Pollard and Serfontein was picked because of their u20 performances - as well as Jesse Kriel.
As ek so vlugtig oor ons mees senior spelers kyk, sit ons met probleem met ervaring en diepte in feitlik elke posisie. Nollis het 'n reuse taak op hande om hieride jong ouens deur te bring.
Ons sal vir 2016 huidige Springbokke he in Kriel, Serfontein, Pollard, Paige, Strauss en Nyakane.
Dan ervare ouer springbokke in Basson, Greyling, Kruger, Labuschagfne en Stegman.
Hierdie 9 spelers is basies die beste ervare spelers wat ons het. Dus: at best, gemiddelde span hoewel daar baie goeie talent is wat gaan deurkom. Maa rhoe kry jy hulle gou genoeg groot gemaak vir Superrugby?
Heelagter - kriel (wie sal vir Jesse cover), Galant, kan ook senter en vleuel speel
Vleuels: Ismael, Ulengo, (Basson - gaan hy oorsee speel), vd Merwe
Senters: WSS, Jan, odendaal, Dan Kriel, Jackson
Losskakels: Pollard (nie CC), Schoeman, Stander, Marais, Human
Skrumskakels: Paige, van Zyl
Losvoorspelers: Liebenberg, Botha, Smit, vd Walt, Stegman, Labuschagne
Slotte: RG Snyman, Orie, Jenkins, Hattingh (nie CC), Van Rensburg
Voorrye: Nyakane, Greyling, Kruger, Schoeman, Mellet, vd Westhuizen, Beerwinkel
Hakers: Strauss, C Visagie, Visagie, Maku
Hy kom van Wellington af , hy is nou by die huis.
Verlore vir die Bulls , maar ons het darem nog vor Wors
if it is you, yes I think Nollis wil definitely have the advantage of knowing these players well and will play them. He has come a long way with them since junior days. But he has a job on his hands ! Not going to be easy for him. he has my full support as I can see it is going to be a tough job bringing these youngsters through, while at the same time, keeping a coll head amidst very uncertain times at the union. Just hope the BBM can make an appointment sooner than later. Hopefully a guy like WSS will stay longer if Nollis is in charge.
It is absolutely not only FL fault that Hougi is out of the boks fold, a lot of people would have played him at wing for the boks and that would have been based on his form, he scored the most tries for a SA player in the comp and still there is no place for him in a team of 49 players???? Something does not make scene to me and i suspect that it has something to do with the end of year tour and his brain fart quick tap and subsequent directly into touch kick. Look at Morne last year, he was droped for not kicking the penalty out and did not play again for the rest of the year, in my opinion he should have started every EOY tour game.
Maybe it would be better for the guys to be injured when a team is selected, I mean it worked for Juan, PSDT, FS, LDJ and so on. Hougi was in the team last year so he should not have played for the whole year and then he would have made the team?
I feel HM is under pressure from the media and does not know how to handle it, why select injured players? Why select ZK? Why select Francois Steyn, he was not loyal to the green and gold?
On form players are not given an opportunity, Hougi and Jaco Kriel would be in my selection any day of the week.
PS i see in the Beeld that Jimmy ROCK HOUSE is willing and eager to come back to SA,,,,, will be pricey as he is contracted to 2017. Come on BBM make this happen please.
Also agree I think that quick tap and kicks directly into touch is haunting Hougaard. Dammit why can't we produced smart rugby players?
Decision making and skills needs to improve dramatically in SA Rugby
hope Nollis keeps to his promise i.e. that not age, history, experience will play a role in selection but ONLY CURRENT performance
To think Heyneke had this dream about exciting young midfielders to take us to the next level and now it lies all in tatters. We had the cream of top Grey College youngsters here. So sad.
Hopefully the Bulls still have the leadership to stand up from this setback that actually started in 2012.
It is sad that he would finnally be the 13 for an extended period and now he is leaving.
Dam you Batman!!!!!!!!!,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,cant blame Ludeke any more so for now it'll have to do!
Die transfer window sluit eers vandag nie waar nie. Daar is ok nog geen nuus oor enige aanwinste nie.
Dei jong spelers wil almal SR speel en die CC is nie hoog op hul prioriteitslys nie. Met Nollis aan die stuur sal WSS baie CC gametime by die BULLE kry. Genoeg om hom te vestig as 'n frontrunner as die SR 2016 aanbreek.
Hy dink seker maar ook aan gametime en kyk na die ander senters by die BULLE js, BO, Dries Dan Kriel JJE wat terugkom in 2016 ens en reken dat hy meer gametime by die tjietas sal kry. Dalk maar hulle verloor baie sterre wat jong spelers laat goed lyk het. SPRETORIUS WILLIE ens so selfs met Franco S daar gaan hulle volgende jaar maar sukkel in my opinie.
My advies aan WSS is bly by die BULLE gebruik die CC om jou in te messel met goeie spel, onthou jy was ongelukkig vir 'n lang ruk beseer vanjaar en FL wat aan JJE vasgegom was is weg. Nollis sal jou hope en hope gametime gee.
Jy is beter af by die BULLE ou seun.Bly hier
Ons gaan baie goeie senter sverloor agv hom.
Jan, WSS, Dan, Odendaal is ons toekoms op senter!!