Peter de Villiers has named a training squad from which the South African XV to take on a Namibian XV will be named. As the pre-Lions tour warmup match will take place on the eve of the Super 14 final, no Bulls players have been selected.
There are a number of uncapped players in the mix, with Sharks forwards Steven Sykes and Jean Deysel rewarded for some promising work in last year’s Currie Cup and this year’s Super 14. The former has been particularly impressive in the number 4 shirt for the coastal side and his call-up is testament to that. Lions scrumhalf Janno Vermaak is also there, along with a surprising selection in the form of WP centre, Morgan Newman.
Earl Rose and Wian du Preez have both been on Bok tours before, although neither has a test cap.
There is a strong Sharks contingent to the squad, with John Smit, Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira among the front rankers. There is no spot for Jannie du Plessis, indicating that Smit will be the tighthead. Sykes is joined by teammate Johann Muller in the second row, while Ryan Kankowski is also in the mix. Adi Jacobs, Odwa Ndungane and JP Pietersen have all been included, while there is no room for either Rory Kockott or Stefan Terblance. Ruan Pienaar and Deon Carstens were not considered due to injury.
Peter Grant and Earl Rose look to cover the flyhalf position, while Adriaan Strauss will be the backup hooker.
Here is the full squad:
Props: Wian Du Preez, Tendai Mtawarira, John Smit (capt)
Hookers: Bismarck Du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss
Locks: Andries Bekker, Johann Muller, Steven Sykes
Loose forwards: Heinrich Brüssow, Schalk Burger, Jean Deysel, Ryan Kankowski,Juan Smith
Scrumhalves: Ricky Januarie, Jano Vermaak
Flyhalves: Peter Grant, Earl Rose
Centres: Jean de Villiers, Adi Jacobs, Morgan Newman
Wings/Fullbacks: Odwa Ndungane, Jongi Nokwe, JP Pietersen
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Well done Sykes and Deysel….well deserved
Morgen Newman?????
Do we know what the Namibian team will look like…how many international players??
Smit the only tighthead.
The backline selection doesn’t make me feel warm and fuzzy
Sounds cool. Guess JPP will be the fullback, with Rose to cover there as well.
Newman???
@Pokkel (Comment 2) : looks bit desperate
@Pokkel (Comment 1) : well done.
so kocky not in – can’t say I am surprised.
but he had a good game on sat
@Pokkel (Comment 3) :
You might get an idea on http://www.republikein.com.na
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 5) : nooo nooo rose will be first choice flyhalf (fortunately I am bad in predictions)
Morgan Newman?YOH, talk about a bolter ❗
rose? Wtf? Good to see jano vermaak, i think he did good this season. Btw this is probably just to test the guys anyway, quite a few wont make the final cut imo
Just please don’t let Januarie make the cut.
guys – remember this is a warmup game to test some combinations and give fringe players a run. It is obviously an indicator as to what Div is thinking, though, but since there are no Bulls involved, you can’t really read too much into it.
What I would say, though, is that anyone who is not from the Bulls and has not been named here is unlikely to get a look in.
Just something that I forgot to put in – Jacque Fourie is missing for personal reasons.
I am Stoked!! 😀
@molly (Comment 12) : oh yes he will 🙄
@Prof. Ice (Comment 14) : by whom ❓
@robdylan (Comment 13) : i think the lions squad was picked last year.
so only in case of injuries the new faces will get in – my humble opinion really
@rekinek (Comment 16) :
WAYY back when I gave someone advise when he was down, to hang in there and just work hard, it will be rewarded…and now it has!!! 😀
@robdylan (Comment 13) :
Newman???
@Prof. Ice (Comment 18) : it has worked. He has been superb.
@Morné (Comment 19) : that one’s a bit left field, I’ll admit.
But let’s just say you had to pick another centre, given that you can’t have Fourie or any of the Bulls guys. Who would it be?
@rekinek (Comment 15) : Probably, but I can hope, even if its just for the Namib game.
@robdylan (Comment 20) :
Bobo
And no Watson… Interesting.
@Morné (Comment 19) : makes me think about dollie’s inclusion last year.
Where is Frans Steyn in all of this? He hasn’t been mentioned as an injured, or did I miss something?
@molly (Comment 25) :
He is injured.
@Prof. Ice (Comment 18) : @robdylan (Comment 20) :
i am still trying to figure out who is he – but then again i am kinda slow
@Morné (Comment 26) : But they mention that Ruan and Deon are not considered… but not Steyn. Just want to make sure.
@molly (Comment 28) :
He only started running this week but no contact yet.
@molly (Comment 21) : yip – though I have a feeling that guy like january will pick himself up for the boks however dismal he was recently. maybe he is already on a diet
@Morné (Comment 22) : Bobo is outside centre
@Morné (Comment 23) : maybe bakkies insisted
@molly (Comment 25) : very, very injured.
@Morné (Comment 22) : fair call, I guess… but that’s not really progress, is it?
@rekinek (Comment 27) : Steven Sykes
@molly (Comment 28) : my bad… I took it as common knowledge that Fransie is crocked.
@Claytie (Comment 31) : we know what we have in Gcobani 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 34) : waiting for faces to load….
😛
@robdylan (Comment 35) : how bad is fransie by the way
@robdylan (Comment 35) : Yes, we have a legend in Bobo. 😉
@robdylan (Comment 35) :
Or Gcobani has NEVER let the Boks down… 🙄
Newman is a bolter and a big surprise…but how many of you have actually seen him play? I haven’t seen enough of him to make a judgement call either way. I do know that he was highly rated in the Cape last season and it’s been a surprise that he hasn’t had a look in for the Stormers this season.
Remember he has featured for the Emerging Boks in both 2007 and 2008 and therefore obviously he was one that PDV has been keeping an eye on!
@rekinek (Comment 37) :
he is useless 😉
hi all
nice squad considering no bulls I think he has earmarked Odwa as F/B and Rose as F/H but he could also go with Rose as F/B and Grand as F/H nah I would go with Grant @ F/H and Odwa @ F/B the rest pick themselves Might even turn out to be a nice game
Rob is this going to televised hope so.
@rekinek (Comment 37) : he’s pretty kak!
@Villie (Comment 40) :
All I know is that he can kick at goal too… 🙄
But that’s about it.
Solid defender, captain of the WP U21’s… 😕
Am a little surprised that Ludik didn’t crack the nod or even Duane Vermeulen…but I guess it came down to a choice between Wolla and Vermeulen and Wolla’s great CC form of last year probably swayed it in his favour!
@Fattmann (Comment 42) : maybe in SA… def not here 🙁
I think JP is going to play fullback
@robdylan (Comment 43) :
snap!!!
Just seen the team, wow Earl Rose, give me strength Johanna. Forgot about Jano Vermaak he won’t let the side down. No Luke which is a surprise
Where’s Rob’s favourite “wonder boy”: Frans Steyn?
@wpw (Comment 44) :
Let’s hope he’s a playmaker at 12. Not too many of those around. Doesn’t look the biggest though…anyone got his stats? (i.e. height, weight etc)
No Stefan Terblanche?? 😯
@wpw (Comment 51) :
Ag no!! I did not see that! 👿
@wpw (Comment 51) : Told you he is over the hill 😆
Personal Details
Full Name: Morgan Ram
Surname: Newman
Height: 180cm
Weight: 92kg
Birth Date: 5 February 1986
Birth City: Cape Town
Marital Status: Single
Favourite Film: 300
Favourite Music: R&B
Favourite Food: Sushi
Primary School: St Georges Grammar Primary
Secondary School: Bishops
Tertiary Education: Stellenbosch University
Morgan Newman
Position: Centre
Physical: 1.79m, 91kg
Province: WP
WP Caps: 40
WP Points: 82 (5p, 11c, 9t)
WP Debut: 2007 vs Sharks
Although he has 40 Provincial caps to his name, Morgan will make his debut for the Vodacom Stormers this year. A former SA u/21 player, Morgan captained the Emerging Boks team that took part in the IRB Nations Cup in Romania in 2008. With some talented players vying to make the centre jersey their own, Morgan will be looking for some solid performances to make him a serious contender for a permanent place in the starting line-up.
@wpw (Comment 54) : I see he is a previously disadvantaged person, attended the lowly Bishops
By the way I think he is a great player, just hope he is not being pushed to soon. He is not small though
@wpw (Comment 54) : Thanks WPW
Will be interesting to see how he comes through. Does have a good pedigree so willing to give him a chance before I pass judgement.
As Rob said earlier, it’s not like we are flush with inside centre’s (outside of JDV, Frans and Meisiekind) so let’s see how he performs
@robdylan (Comment 33) :
Newman is certainly not!
@Villie (Comment 40) :
I have seen a bit of him, not really progression as Rob puts it 😉
If I wanted a bolter I would have selected Ebherson!
Where is Jorrie Muller when you need him!
@Villie (Comment 58) :
Well let’s wait and see.
There is NO WAY he will be involved in the Lions series as we have JDV, Steyn, Adi, Fourie and Wynand Olivier who will definitely be ahead of him in the pecking order.
Maybe PDV is doing what Jake did when he selected Nokwe for the EOYT in 2004 or was it 2005?
Let him get some experience of the Bok ‘culture’ 🙂
@Morné (Comment 60) : What ever happened to him, the infamy of being Jorrie 😳
I suppose Snor does have cover at fullback with ROSE!!
Remember that Rose is a favorite of Div’s so he will give him 10 chances to play himself out of contention!!!!!!
Frans is 2-3 weeks away from fitness I also think that Stephan has lost a yard of pace thats why its Odwa I dont think it will be JPP @ F/B for he has the wing spot in the Boks done and dusted and the purpose of this exercise “He added that the game against the Namibian XV would allow him to test systems and plays in preparation for the Lions Test series”-Tank Lanning Sport 24
@Whindy (Comment 62) :
He and Gus Theron went into business together 😉
@Morné (Comment 65) :
Started a rugby academy! 😈
@Morné (Comment 60) : YOH YOH YOH KING JORRIE!The local game is poorer without him
Some oke on Voldy says JP Nel should have played for the Boks already!!! 😯
@Morné (Comment 66) : The CatchaRugbyBall Academy?
@Morné (Comment 65) :
@Morné (Comment 65) : Shame man, I see they still refer to it as a Jorrie on Supersport
@Prof. Ice (Comment 52) : anyone actually read the article? 🙂
@Morné (Comment 59) : I have never seen him play – I said progress on the basis that he’s about 100 years younger than Bobes is. If you wanted a bolter at centre, I’d have picked Swannie or Zuks… that’s just my bias coming through, though.
@robdylan (Comment 72) :
What about Meyer Bosman???
Is he injured or just plain kak?? 🙄
@wpw (Comment 73) : The latter 🙄
@wpw (Comment 73) : Don’t think he’s injured and he’s actually fairly decent. Might be a little unlucky.
@wpw (Comment 68) : Just read that comment a minute ago
@robdylan (Comment 71) :
This was just a very quick scan…the header was a good enough for me!!
@Prof. Ice (Comment 77) : 🙂
@Prof. Ice (Comment 77) : i read players’ names
kidding actually read the whole thing.
Morgan who?
@Rahul (Comment 80) :
Freeman…?
Played 40 games for WP, thats 10 short of a huge milestone, and nobody here can remember Morgan. Hasn’t left much of an impression then.
@Prof. Ice (Comment 81) : 😆
WeePee need a miracle
I wonder how much Keo pays PdeV to throw in a bolter from WP in order to get the good folk of Keo’s world in a froth.
@Salmonoid (Comment 82) :
I think most of those games were for the VC side.
PdeV obviously doesn’t like Kockett much 🙁
@Rahul (Comment 86) : and who does
@rekinek (Comment 87) : 😆
@wpw (Comment 85) :
But even then that would be a few years (5+) of VC games. I wonder if they aren’t including age group games as well.
@Rahul (Comment 86) :
overrated and too individualistic…
@Salmonoid (Comment 89) :
That would explain why Gus Theron played over 90 games for WP… *spit*
@wpw (Comment 90) : Ah… we want non thinkers to play. Do as I say or else?
@wpw (Comment 91) :
If thats how you feel, imagine how it felt for the opposition when he scored a try againstthem.
@Rahul (Comment 92) :
There is no ‘i’ in ‘team’ is there??? 😈
@Salmonoid (Comment 93) : hahaha
Didn’t he turn out for the Sharks S12 team when you made the semis back in 2001??
I remember Rudi also selected him for the Boks. WTF??? 😯
@wpw (Comment 94) : Or we… Like WeePee 😈
@wpw (Comment 95) : no – he played for us in 98 or 99
@wpw (Comment 94) :
yes there is : TIEM..
@robdylan (Comment 97) :
Notradamus! Seems you were at it again!! 😉
http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2008/12/12/sykesie-getting-amped-for-a-big-super-14/
@robdylan (Comment 97) :
I’m sorry to hear that… 🙄
@wpw (Comment 100) : I’m over it… we’ve had far worse. Ryan Walker, Clinton van Rensburg, Kees Lensing
@robdylan (Comment 101) :
Where is Kees Lensing these days?
@Salmonoid (Comment 102) : Castres, I believe.
@Rahul (Comment 88) : on a serious note though – thought that rockott had a good game on sat. at least we saw some ruan
and this little drop at the end was cool
@Prof. Ice (Comment 99) : he he 😛
@rekinek (Comment 104) : He did. But I can’t help but wonder, if he had taken the rest of his kicks as quick…
I am very interested to see how Nokwe performs with a decent backline. Is the game going to be televised?
@Rahul (Comment 106) : then this one would not be so much fun
@rekinek (Comment 108) : 😆
See ya’ll later
@Rahul (Comment 107) : maybe in a same manner as against australia –
would be nice to watch on tele – i am sure it will be on.
No Rory… Real tragedy that.
Glad Deysel and Sykes made the cut; Sykes especially is red hot at the moment – finally living up to his promise – with an athletic background like his you would expect him to make great strides as he gains the technical abilities.
Hope this game is televised.
@Rahul (Comment 106) : good point… the oke takes flipping AGES to kick. Quite annoying
@robdylan (Comment 113) : same as ruan – maybe they have internal competition who can hold longer
@rekinek (Comment 114) : Got nothing on Louis Koen.
@Claytie (Comment 115) : i was not such a rugby watcher when koen was playing – was he also a slowyyy 😆
@Big Fish (Comment 111) : for rory i guess.
not for the sharks 😛
and I guess boks will also manage.
Louis Skoen is a Bok legend!!
@wpw (Comment 118) : about as useful as Robbie Fleck