Bok coach Peter de Villiers on Monday axed five players from the squad that beat Wales 34-31 at the weekend, when he named a 27-man squad for the remainder of the June internationals.
Rugby 365 editor Jan De Koning writes that those out include overseas-based stars Frans Steyn and Joe van Niekerk, along with the injured wing Odwa Ndungane, unused Cheetahs utility back Meyer Bosman and prop CJ van der Linde – the latter back with the Cheetahs for the Currie Cup season.
However, the headlines will be grabbed by the retention of James and the inclusion of uncapped Bulls lock Flip van der Merwe.
James’ retention comes after he was named and dropped from the Bok team three times last week – the result of a stand-off over his availability between the Bok camp and Premier Rugby, the umbrella body in charge of the 12 Premiership clubs in England.
James is contracted to Bath till 2012.
The only other overseas-based player retained by the Bok coach is prop BJ Botha.
Bok team doctor Craig Roberts confirmed that Ndungane picked up a rib injury in the win over the Welsh – the result of a spiteful knee while he went over to score the team’s first try just before the half-time break. Ndungane will undergo further scans to assess the damage, but is not available this week.
Lock Andries Bekker, who flew back from France early, is still struggling to overcome his foot and lower back injuries – the latter the more serious of the two – and will be closely monitored in the course of the week. His availability will be re-assessed ahead of the first Test against Italy in Witbank on June 19.
As was reported last week ace scrumhalf Fourie du Preez faces shoulder surgery. It was confirmed on Monday that he will go under the knife on Tuesday to repair the rotor-cuff damage and will be sidelined for six months.
Centre Jean de Villiers, who was named in the squad on Monday, is in a race against time to be fit for Saturday’s Test against France. He is struggling with an AC-joint shoulder injury.
Flank Dewald Potgieter, one of the stars of the win over the Welsh, is carrying a rib cartilage injury that he suffered in the Super 14 Final. However, having played through the pain barrier in Cardiff he is not considered doubtful.
The inclusion of Van der Merwe, one of the young up-and-coming stars in South African rugby, is one of nine players joining the Bok camp in Cape Town.
Schalk Burger, Bryan Habana, Morné Steyn, Pierre Spies, Zane Kirchner, Gurthrö Steenkamp and Wynand Olivier are the established Boks who return to the fray this week, while Jean de Villiers is also part of the build-up to the French Test and will be assessed this week.
Bakkies Botha has been named in the 27-man squad, but must serve the last week of his ban and will only be available to face Italy.
South Africa: Zane Kirchner, Gio Aplon, Bjorn Basson, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Wynand Olivier, Juan de Jongh, Butch James, Morné Steyn, Bryan Habana, Ruan Pienaar, Ricky Januarie, Pierre Spies, Ryan Kankowski, Dewald Potgieter, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger, Bakkies Botha, Flip van der Merwe, Danie Rossouw, Victor Matfield, Alistair Hargreaves, BJ Botha, John Smit (captain), Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jannie du Plessis, Gurthrö Steenkamp.
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On the one hand I’m impressed that PdV has kept James. On the other hand I’m a little perplexed why Steyn has been omitted.
But would Butch be joining us in the Magical MotherCity??
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) : Yeah Crusty above Steyn . . only in South Africa 🙄
PdV is having brainfarts again 🙄 . His issues with F Steyn has not been resolved I tell you. Hope Ruan gets to be the 1st choice scrummy, why is Chilly there when we already have Januarie 🙄
😐 Will never understand this man. Full of hypocrisy!
Whatever! Go Bokke!
Go Bokke ❗ ❗ ❗
@JarsonX (Comment 3) : Who is Crusty?
@Just a Fan (Comment 6) :
Kirchner.
@Just a Fan (Comment 6) : Not my comment, I think Pierre is refering to Zane Kirchner 😛
Cheetahs must be shitting themselves. If CJ vd Linde is not in the Bok squad then the Cheetahs will have to pay his match fees. 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) : Thanks…
@JarsonX (Comment 8) : Sorry ….think my disillusionment of Frans not being in the side has got the better of me….trying to convince myself that is “just a game”….*tears*
What amazes me is the criticism aimed at Januarie’s selection and yet the likes of Kanko’s selection is not questioned…
Now Ricki might not have played well this year but for goodness sake he is a 40 test veteran and has proved over and again that he has BMT.
I just don’t get how some players have done absolutely squat at test level (Olivier springs to mind) and yet others are crucified just because they lack form!!
The hypocracy is so obvious!!
@wpw (Comment 12) :
Was it Mechanic that scored the try of the year against the AB’s in Dunedin last year !
@wpw (Comment 12) : Who critized Januarie 🙂
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 13) : I believe so
@JarsonX (Comment 15) :
So explain … how that other idiot gets picked ahead of him in the Super 14.
You can’t play test rugby and not make your Super team !
Something doesn’t add up there ! 😕
@wpw (Comment 12) :
Have some comments been deleted? 🙄 I didn’t see anyone moaning or praising the Kankow / Januarie selections.
@JarsonX (Comment 14) :
YEAH EXACTLY!!!!!!!
WPW has been told he has to cook dinner whether it is his turn or not and now he comes and takes his bad mood out on us? 😈 😛
Another one is Chilliboy how on earth is he there ! JOKE
…how does he not make the Bulls yet is picked ahead of Botha am i missing something here !
….and Leinenburg is better what’s going on !
Interesting that Boks are only picking Burger as an openside.
….PDV must have have the cheetahs openside penned in for the RWC
Januarie is past his prime, he is still a great impact player though. Well Chillyboy is a sore topic 🙄
@JarsonX (Comment 21) : There’s nothing sore about that topic… I’ve figured it out! There is no one in the squad that can carry as many bags at once! That MUST be it!
I’m starting a ‘Let’s bring Grant back to Natal”-fund, who’s clubbing in?
I did the same thing with Louis Ludik and see what happened!
Actually I can’t wait for Louis to make his first Shark run in anger…. I can’t wait!
@JarsonX (Comment 21) : @SandTiger (Comment 22) :
So i am missing something here …it is just impossible to get picked ahead of the best two hookers in the super 14
…. both being finalists
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 19) : thats what i’ve been asking got nothing agaisnt chillie just don’t think he can make it there must b s one else that they can use and leave F Steyn out sth not right but then we only comment and not the coach 😕 😉
@JarsonX (Comment 21) : excatly my point 🙂
Well all i can say is
GO BOKKE GO 
@SandTiger (Comment 23) : i’m in
@SandTiger (Comment 23) :
I wouldn’t mind witing for ever for that to happen.
We have Lambie and we can’t afford to mess the kid around.
@chaz (Comment 28) : Ka-Ching….
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 24) : Missing nothing… Chilli has been in and around the SA squad since he was 100% pottie trained… and I have NEVER been able to figure out why.
It might be that the public pressure to drop Smith from hooker in the event that they pick a better hooker may get too much… so they keep the competition in the squad to a minimum… cause we need a cappie 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 29) : Ludik is an awesome wing as well… much like James Small… just less weed. Ludik could serve as protection more than anything.
I still think he has a lot of value to add, barring injury
Lambie is the currie cup flyhalf. Henson will be at 12
@KSA Shark © (Comment 29) : now that is one thing i agree on don’t mess around with OUR Lambie he is young and my a talented player and a lengend at such a young age
hope my gran son plays good rugby when he is at that age
he is starting to play next year bulltjie 😆
@SandTiger (Comment 32) :
if you talk like that then cool, but NOT ahead of lambie unless it is to give Lambie a break.
The guy needs to be nurtured and he will be the next Rolls Royce. 😉
@robdylan (Comment 33) : AMEN
@robdylan (Comment 33) :
Please tell me you left the “I Hope” or the ” I presume” bit of that post off on purpose.
🙁
@KSA Shark © (Comment 35) : AMEN to that to
GO LAMBIE GO 
@robdylan (Comment 33) :
OMG…now that is why i read this site !
Now that is the start of a real backline !
@robdylan (Comment 33) : and so we break another horse in before its ready… sigh…
@KSA Shark © (Comment 35) :
He won’t even cut it at the U20 Junior Level !
…well maybe cut it but not stand out…. however being a goal kicker that is an important string to his bow !
You know I seldom make stuff up 😉
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 39) : great i just hope Rob isn’t pulling our legs here now we need some good hope for the CC 🙂
Rob joking 😉
Do you think he will play Super 15 ❓
@robdylan (Comment 42) : well let this one tell you sth Lambie is going to out play F Steyn just wait and see just hope we will see him inthe WC 2011 😉
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 44) : oh yes just wait and see
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 44) : if he can play in the S14v like this and tin the baby boks why not in the S15 and WC
@robdylan (Comment 42) :
i can’t see the article on that anywhere. 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 48) : don’t tell me that i’m getting my hopes up high and the rest of SW and you are not sure 😕 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 48) : help please yesterday i don’t know pushed sth and got to see photos of the 2 girls now how do i get there again i would lv to get my grans kids on the SW photos is it allowed
only asking 😉
@chaz (Comment 50) :
Maybe you clicked on my Username, which takes you to my family blog, although that has been dormant for a while.
You have the ability to add a link to your username on your profile page, but there is no facility to post pictures of you family or anyone else on SW.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 51) : ok thanks don’t how i did it but well great looking girls and my i know what you looked like 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 51) : ok thats what happened 😉
@Original Pierre (Comment 2) :
🙄 🙄
Chilliboy’s selection once again puzzles me – I’ve heard he’s got talent at hooker, but I’m yet to see it! Bismark Du Plessis’ ommision is questionable to say the least – him and Andrew Hore are probably the top rated hookers in the world and yet he’s not good enough to make the team.
I’ve already made my thoughts clear on Kirchners selection, another rant won’t add anything constructive.
I think we’ll be a little vulnerable at Prop, but I’ll reserve judgement on that until after the next game.
Other than those 2 selections I think it’s a pretty solid team.
But does anyone know if Butch is really available this time around?
@Original Pierre (Comment 56) : It is in the IRB test window, but he wasn’t selected anyway
Apparently there is a need to clear up some facts here:
First, Januarie scored the try against the ABs two years ago in Dunedin, not last year. Januarie has done very little since that match.
Second, Bismark is injured and that is the only reason he is not at least in the squad.
Third, the difference between Kanko and Januarie is that Kanko didn’t even make the match 22, while Januarie is starting, so you can not compare the two Wes, and besides, Januarie is still incapable of passing without taking three steps toward his flyhalf first.
Oh and one more thing, PdV does not have a problem with F Steyn. The problem lies 100% at Steyn’s feet. He chose to leave SA, he chose to threaten not to play once selected, he always wants to dictate where he plays rather than being a team player.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 58) :
YO.
Arrive in DC afternoon of July 2.
Leave DC morning of July 7.
You around for a beer sometime? We can come up to the bay if needed we have a rental car.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 58) :
Agreed.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 59) :
Agreed even more. 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 60) : Howzit! I will definitely be around for some of the time you are in DC, so definitely need to get together. Let me see what is going on around the Bay that week and give you more of an idea in a few days. Looking forward to seeing you all.
Should be some fun July 4th celebrations with fireworks over the Bay. Be prepared for hot and humid though.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 63) :
Hot and Humid will be cool.
We have been running 40plus for more than a week with 50 – 7- % Mumidity. 😳
@Dancing Bear (Comment 63) :
That would be cool. I’m told the mall will be hectic on 4th of July so may wanna skip that and head OUT of DC.
hehehe 50-70% humidity is not at all humid KSA…..lol There is a significant chance you will see temps around 40 with around 90-95% humidity. It is like walking into a wall sometimes when you step outside.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 65) : The Mall is a fantastic July 4 celebration, however with about 300,000 people all trying to be there to see it, it is very crowded and hectic, although it is something worth experiencing, it is quite special.
There is a big celebration and fireworks in Annapolis on July 4 as well, fireworks shot off from a barge off the Naval Academy sea wall, so it is really a spectacular view. Of course fireworks going off around the Washington DC monuments and landmarks is also quite spectacular.
I have a meeting I have to get to. Stay in touch KSA, you have my e-mail, so keep me informed of your schedule, and we will definitely see each other in a month! Cheers.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 59) : 😯
@Dancing Bear (Comment 68) :
Will do.
Am so jealous. I want to go with!
@robdylan (Comment 71) :
Hey P Off. you’ve just BEEN to Euro Disney. 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 72) : Enjoy the 4th of July, it is a really fun day over there.
@lostfish (Comment 73) :
I’m hoping so. 🙂