Springbok coach Peter de Villiers will name his first Test team of the year after the two Super 14 semifinals on Saturday and it is likely to include very few of the Stormers and Bulls players.
Jan de Koning reports for rugby365.com:
The Bulls host the Crusaders in the first semifinal in Soweto and the Stormers are at home to the Waratahs in Cape Town.
The Bok coach will name his team for the Welsh Test, in Cardiff on June 5, after the second semifinal at Newlands.
However, the team is set to feature a host of overseas-based players and a few surprising choices from teams not involved in the play-offs.
The Bulls and Stormers’ Springboks won’t come into the Test frame until South Africa meet France in Cape Town on Saturday, June 12.
De Villiers has already indicated that he will use the encounter with Wales at the Millennium Stadium as a ‘trial match’ for a host of overseas stars, with a view to their possible selection in the World Cup squad for the global showpiece in New Zealand next year.
Players like Daan Human (Toulouse), BJ Botha (Ulster), CJ van der Linde (Leinster), Joe van Niekerk (Toulon), Butch James and Michael Claassens (both Bath) are all on the Bok selection shortlist for the year’s opening Test.
There may be a few more.
However, there could be a few surprise selections from the domestic scene.
The Sharks will provide the usual batch – players like captain John Smit, Jannie du Plessis, Ryan Kankowski, Ruan Pienaar and JP Pietersen. Throw in maybe Steven Sykes and Allistair Hargreaves. (Hooker Bismarck du Plessis is out of the frame with a neck injury.)
But the real surprises could come from the Cheetahs, where players like Hennie Daniller (fullback) and Bjorn Basson (wing) have come to the fore in recent weeks.
And, of course, there is the effervescent Juan Smith who has made a huge difference to the Cheetahs team – both as a player and a leader.
Tweet
Beast
Smit
Jannie
BJ
WP Nel
Strauss (FS Hooker)
Chilliboy (heaven forbid) 🙄
Hargreaves
Sykes
Skeate??
Deysel
Juan
Kanko
Van Niekerk
Watson 😈
Claassens
Pienaar
Vermaak
Butch
Frans
JDV
Meyer Bosman
Ebersohn
Basson
Nokwe
JPP
Odwa
Lambie 🙄
Daniller
Any other suggestions?? 😕
as long as he doesn’t reveal anything more. that snor won’t cover everything.
@wpw (Comment 1) : lambie will be there.
so will the free state griquas scrummie.
@wpw (Comment 1) : is butch and steyn coming back for the WC 2010
and my LAMBIE
@try time (Comment 4) :
Ja, Sarel Pretorius has been great.
Wrt Lambie, is he not travelling with the Baby Boks which would probably rule him out for the Boks??
I think it is too early for him don’t you??
@wpw (Comment 1) : perhaps ricky will get in and sarel pretorius
pienaar will be considered as FL methinks
@try time (Comment 3) : don’t think so – isn’t he suppose to be playing with U-21
@wpw (Comment 6) : no i don’t he has proven himself in the S14 so ready or not he can do it in the WC 2010 nobody thought the FS was too young wen he took his side in the WC 2005
@rekinek (Comment 8) : can they pull him for WC 2010 for the Boks
@rekinek (Comment 7) :
Ricky won’t be selected because he is on the Stormers bench for the semis (and hopefully the final)
@Chaz (Comment 10) : not sure whether I understand. lambie was selected to play for Baby Boks in 2010 Junior Championship. I think it is in July .
This selection is just for the Cardiff game.
@wpw (Comment 11) : on the bench as you say – I’m sure PDiVie would love to give him more game time to make up for this atrocious treatment from Stormers
@rekinek (Comment 12) : me miss understood that one or didn’t read properly 😳
@Chaz (Comment 9) : I think you mean WC2011 and WC2007
@rekinek (Comment 15) : sorry sh!t chaz where is your head this morning 😕
Rob I think u owe me an apology – last year before the season began when I suggested that we should start Lambie in place of oupa in S14 u called me crazy that he was still too young 2 start him in VC – not only did he replace oupa in S14 he shone in the tournement now he is being touted as a Bok 😈
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 17) : did I? Sorry, then…
really hope Sykes and Hargo don’t get pulled out of the Currie Cup
@robdylan (Comment 19) : are you attempting to jinx them now.
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 17) : and hello to you 😛
Wes…that Squad looks weak……doesn’t it 😯
So from that crew what would be the Starting XV 😎
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 22) :
1 Beast
2 Smit
3 Jannie
4 Sykes
5 Anton van Zyl???
6 Deysel / Wikus v Heerden
7 Juan / Deysel
8 Kanko
9 Sarel Pretorius/Ruan
10 Ruan / Butch
11 Bjorn Basson
12 Jean de Villiers/Frans Steyn
13 Marius Joubert
14 Nokwe
15 Frans Steyn / Lambie
Not a bad team but they won’t have much time to practice together 🙄
@Pokkel (Comment 23) : no 3 should be BJ Botha not Jannie
@Pokkel (Comment 23) :
I didn’t ask for a Sharks invitation side 😎
@Pokkel (Comment 23) : nice team .
I would change 3 from Jannie to BJ
Not sure about Van Zyl – but not sure with whom to replace him. Maybe ali or who’s cheetahs lock?
also thinking about different 13.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 25) : would you prefer drafting in some more lions
the sharks , bulls and few stormers constitute the bulk of springboks and with Stormers and Bulls out of the picture it must be Sharks invitational.
@rekinek (Comment 26) : Outside centre and another lock is a problem without the Bulls or Stormers( and van Zyl is a stormer)
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 25) : Hey, do you want more Cheetah’s and Lions in the team??
13 could be Ebersohn but can’t think of any other locks.
@Pokkel (Comment 28) :
I want more overseas based players….that is what the coach keeps banging on about !
I thought it was like an overseas based trial
For starters get Steyn in there at Fly Half
Try again
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 30) : I’ll NEVER select Steyn at Flyhalf
@rekinek (Comment 8) : damn, you are right. pity, it is nice to get quality youngsters in the bok set up earlier rather than later.
@wpw (Comment 6) : yeah lambie is, i forgot about that.
i just love the fact that we are sending a weak team like the nh always send us.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 30) : don’t wish us that bad 😆
@Pokkel (Comment 31) :
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 30) :
1. CJ v d Linde
2. Schalk Brits
3. BJ Botha
4. Ross Skeate
5. ???
6. ???
7. ???
8. Shaun Sowerby
9. Micheal Claasens
10. Butch
11. ??
12. Jean de Villiers
13. Marius Joubert
14. ???
15. Frans Steyn
HH help me fill the gaps with only overseas based players
we could make a bok squad with the sharks forward pack and the free state backline and beat wales. and we won’t have to worry too much as we won’t be messing combos up to much.
@try time (Comment 37) : The problem with a mix and match team is that they will probably only practice together for a week or so and won’t gel yet
@Pokkel (Comment 38) : that is why i say keep the free state backline and sharks forwards. all your major combos have played s14 together so there won’t be to much problem with settling the team. the only combo that will need work is 9 and ten.
@try time (Comment 37) : What about Botha at Northamton Watson at Bath, Van Niekirk at Toulon
that’s a pack….you must have wingers floating about ❓
@Pokkel (Comment 36) : isn’t brent russel still playing – i’m sure he can do anywhere in the backline 😈
and you forgotten about fluke.
@try time (Comment 39) : I agree but Divvie wants to ‘trial’ the overseas based players so I’m trying to put a team together for HH
@rekinek (Comment 41) : Russel could be one of the wings….and no I didn’t forget Fluke…I just chose to ignore him.
so your team will look like this
beast
smit
jannie
sykes
hargreaves
deysel
botes
ryan
sarel
ruan
basson
bosman
corne uys
stefan
daniller
and there is enough quality overseas and here to fill the bench.
Ok let’s see,
1. CJ v d Linde
2. Schalk Brits
3. BJ Botha
4. Ross Skeate
5. ???
6. ???
7. Shaun Sowerby
8. Big Joe
9. Micheal Claasens
10. Butch
11. Brent Russel
12. Jean de Villiers
13. Marius Joubert
14. ???
15. Frans Steyn
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 40) : you need quality backup so use the overseas players as well. but keep the serious combos as they were in s14. remember smit beast and bj have played together and done well. i wouldn’t put cj vd linde in the same hemisphere as the boks, nevermind in the boks.
@Pokkel (Comment 45) : in your list there the only real contenders are bj, brits, jdv and steyn. the rest are injured or has beens.
oh i would put alberts in, but i am not sure how serious his injury is.
ok ok, and juan smith will probably feature ahead of botes. but i thought it would be nice for botes to get at least on cap. i am allowed a little bias here aren’t i? 😉
1. Beast
2. Smit
3. BJ
4. Sykes
5. Hargreaves
6. Botes/Deysel
7. Juan
8. Kanko
9. Sarel
10. Ruan
11. Bjorn
12. JdV
13. Ebersohn
14. Nokwe
15. Steyn
@Pokkel (Comment 45) : did you have a look at saracens side – there should be enough saffa to fill the remaining gaps. i will try to see.
@try time (Comment 49) : It would be nice if Botes gets a cap but doesn’t he also fall in your ‘hasbeen’ category??
@rekinek (Comment 51) :
Saracens line-up vs Northampton Saints
15 Alex Goode
14 Michael Tagicakibau
13 Adam Powell
12 Brad Barritt
11 Chris Wyles
10 Glen Jackson
9 Neil de Kock
1 Matias Aguero
2 Schalk Brits
3 Petrus du Plessis
4 Hugh Vyvyan
5 Mouritz Botha
6 Jacques Burger
7 Andy Saull
8 Ernst Joubert (c)
16 Fabio Ongaro
17 Rhys Gill
18 Richard Skuse
19 Tom Ryder
20 Justin Melck
21 Justin Marshall
22 Derick Hougaard
23 Kameli Ratuvou
some saffa sounding names..
@Pokkel (Comment 52) : less so than big joe sowerby etc. those guys would be playing legends in sa.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 22) :
It is for the test against Wales!!
No Bulls and Stormers players will be considered! 😕
@rekinek (Comment 53) : barritt can’t play for sa. didn’t he play for england b, killing all chances of him making a bok squad.
@try time (Comment 56) : pokkel has gaps at 5,6 and 14
@rekinek (Comment 57) : i have gaps between my teeth.
@Pokkel (Comment 36) :
Seriously Pokkel when last have you seen CJ play??
He doesn’t even last 40 minutes and is always injured.
The fact that he nearly has 50 tests caps just sickens me. 🙄
@wpw (Comment 59) : I don’t want CJ there. HH wanted a team with only overseas based players and I couldn’t think of anyone else.
@try time (Comment 56) :
A real pity Barritt won’t ever play for the Boks.
He is a much better player than the likes of Bosman, Bobo and Meisiekind!! 😕
@Pokkel (Comment 60) :
Daan Human has been very consistent in France!!
Peter Dixon 😯
Ernst Joubert
Niel De Kock
Brian Mujati
Gcobani Bobo
@try time (Comment 58) : orthodontist needed? 😆
@try time (Comment 58) : and BTW i put clogs on to hide Polish roots
Ernst Joubert is in the running for Guiness Premiership player of the season and has been sensational over here so certainly deserves a squad place.
Chilliboy is still injured so I guess Maku will be there in his place.
Skeate doesn’t start often for Toulon so can’t see how he can make it. Joe Van Niekerk is captain and from all accounts has been excellent, but we are not short of loosies.
Marius Joubert could be a good shout for outside centre. Schalk Britz is another who has had an excellent season for Sarries and is also on shortlist for player of season!
@Villie (Comment 65) : funnily enough when i saw rekinek’s saracens team i noticed ernst’s name and wondered how he was playing. he impressed me as a good player when he was playing here.
@rekinek (Comment 64) : i thought it was so no-one could comment about your stormers voodoo doll. we know you used it when the stormers played the sharks. you now have to get a voodoo doll for all the sharks other opposition. we can’t rely on plum and adolf to get things right, so they need all the help they can get.
1. Beast
2. Smit
3. BJ
4. Sykes
5. Flip van der Merwe
6. Deysel
7. Smith
8. Alberts
9. Pienaar
10. James
11. Nokwe
12. de Villiers
13. Joubert
14. Basson
15. Steyn
16. Brits
17. van der Linde
18. Hargreaves
19. Kankowski
20. Claassens
21. Ebersohn
22. Killian
@rhineshark (Comment 68) : Not bad at all…Would they concider Flip because he isn’t a starting Bull?
@rhineshark (Comment 68) : Maybe a spot could be found for Wickus van Heerden as well.
@try time (Comment 67) :
😎 so I can get all the credit for this win .
not a bad idea really … anything for the team
@Pokkel (Comment 69) : That’s my reasoning with Flip, but it could be a problem with Bakkies out for 4 weeks. If not Flip then Hargreaves in and David de Villiers or Anton van Zyl on the bench.
@Pokkel (Comment 70) : The problem is, who do you leave out to put Wikus in?
Huh?? WTF are they playing in Cardiff in the “summer”? 😕