The return of John Smit and Andries Bekker to the Springbok squad for the second test against Italy have led to Alistair Hargreaves and Bandise Maku losing their places in the match 22.
Bulls lock Flip van der Merwe also looks set to miss out, with Danie Rossouw and Bakkies Botha looking to re-establich themselves as the two “enforcer locks” in the squad. Victor Matfield is widely expected to be rested this weekend, with Bekker coming straight back into the starting lineup and Rossouw coming onto the bench. Hopes that Hargreaves, twice capped off the bench, might be given his first start in test rugby have seemingly been dashed by Bekker’s return to fitness and the lanky Natalian looks likely to be playing his rugby in the Currie Cup for the rest of the season.
It’s good news for the Sharks, of course, who may well make the decision to appoint Hargreaves as captain for the Currie Cup campaign now that his availability for the duration of the competition is a little clearer. The Sharks have also contracted Ross Skeate, another specialist 5 lock, though and Hargreaves will need to be on top of his game to keep the former Stormers man out of the starting fifteen.
Maku becomes just the latest “yo-yo Bok” as he was capped for around two minutes on Saturday, only to be dropped again entirely. What a way to earn a living!
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I can’t agree with Rossouw playing off the bench – he’s our best lock right now!
Hopefully PdV comes to his senses and stops arsing around with his selections, such as Butch at 12. FAIL.
Good news for the sharks indeed but the boks don’t know what they missing when it comes to Hargreaves,he is a super player but he will have to prove it in the currie cup.as for maku he didn’t deserv to be there anyway,a certain gary from the bulls or tiaan from the stormers are just unlucky to be the wrong colour enough said. And i hope craig burden gets to tour in novenber my fav hooker by far!
Andries Bekker and John Smit have returned from injury-enforced breaks and are set to start against Italy this weekend.
Bekker hasn’t played a Test this year after struggling with back and foot ailments, while Smit sat out in Witbank after suffering a grade one hamstring strain before last week’s France Test. Smit and Schalk Burger – who was a late withdrawal in Witbank – ran separately from the rest of the team early on, but the Bok captain took part in the lineout session.
Burger sat out for the remainder of practice.
Early indications from Monday’s training are that Gio Aplon could start at fullback with Jean de Villiers on the wing and Juan de Jongh at inside centre. Depending on Burger’s fitness, Danie Rossouw may start on the flank alongside Francois Louw, with Bakkies Botha retaining his spot at lock. Ricky Januarie and Morne Steyn are due to be the halfbacks.
Other players who missed the Witbank clash but who have returned are Jaque Fourie and Wynand Olivier. Fourie is likely to retain his No 13 jersey, while Olivier may be used off the bench.
Those who weren’t present at training from last week’s group include Victor Matfield (rested), Ryan Kankowski, Bjorn Basson, Bandise Maku and Alistair Hargreaves.
The group of 24 at training on Monday: BJ Botha, CJ van der Linde, Jannie du Plessis, Gurthro Steenkamp, John Smit, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Bakkies Botha, Andries Bekker, Danie Rossouw, Francois Louw, Dewald Potgieter, Schalk Burger, Pierre Spies, Ricky Januarie, Ruan Pienaar, Morne Steyn, Butch James, Juan de Jongh, Wynand Olivier, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Zane Kirchner, Gio Aplon.
Leave skin colour out of the discussion, please, as per the site rules.
@Poisy (Comment 2) :
Hargreaves hasn’t impressed me. He was excellent at age group level, but somehow looks like a “boy amongst men” at senior level?
@CS (Comment 5) : I agree….he still has a long way to go before he is a real contender for the Bok jersey…..Giving Maku a cap for his 2 minutes on the field on Saturday was just stupid….and PdV has said that he doesn’t just want to give caps away….same goes for the cap Hargreaves got for that matter. 🙄
Wish i could earn R75 000 for 2 minute’s work!
😛
It’s ridiculous what these players earn.
Ross Skeate!!!! Ah man, I never rated him. What’s up with the Sharks? 😥 Didn’t you once call him the ‘Sideburned Softie’, Rob?
@Pokkel (Comment 6) : I think Chilliboy was injured… so we didn’t really have a choice about bringing Maku on, especially with the Italians camped on our tryline.
@CapeShark (Comment 7) :
He would have got the 75K even if he didn’t take the field!! 😯 😈
@CapeShark (Comment 8) : if I didn’t, I should have 🙂
@CS (Comment 9) : I didn’t notice…my bad 😳
Hargs is the guy for the job post 2011. Welcome back dude. 😀
@CS (Comment 9) : Yup, that’s how I remember it as well – Chilliboy was injured.
Maku was capped for about 20 seconds… giving away Bok caps like candy to kids.
@CS (Comment 9) : Chiliboy injured… it was always a when rather than if. Has he ever gone a full season without getting injured.