Heyneke Meyer has added 3 new faces to his squad ahead of the Boks Rugby Championship campaign, although one, Andries Bekker, is hardly a newcomer to the Test scene.
The two newcomers are Lions prop Pat Ciliers, rewarded for great form at tight head during this year’s Super Rugby campaign and Stormers flank Siya Kolisi, whose omission for the mid-year tests against England caused quite a stir in some parts.
The Sharks have 10 players in the squad and incredibly, the Bulls have 11! The likes of JJ Engelbrecht, Jacques Potgieter, Jano Vermaak and Zane Kirchner are somewhat fortunate to still be in the picture. Ryan Kankowski and Wynand Olivier are both missing, having opted to continue their careers in Japan for the time being. Western Province again are under-represented, with only four in the squad (one of them a back!). Both Gio Aplon and Juan de Jongh have been left out again.
The Springbok squad is:
Props:
Pat Cilliers, MTN Golden Lions, uncapped
Jannie du Plessis, The Sharks, 33 caps
Dean Greyling, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 2 caps
Tendai Mtawarira, The Sharks, 35 caps
Hookers:
Bismarck du Plessis, The Sharks, 45 caps
Chiliboy Ralepelle, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 21 caps
Adriaan Strauss, Toyota FS Cheetahs, 12 caps
Locks:
Andries Bekker, DHL Western Province, 24 caps
Eben Etzebeth, DHL Western Province, 3 caps
Juandré Kruger, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 3 caps
Flip van der Merwe, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 14 caps
Loose Forwards:
Willem Alberts, The Sharks, 11 caps
Marcell Coetzee, The Sharks, 3 caps
Keegan Daniel, The Sharks, 3 caps
Siya Kolisi, DHL Western Province, uncapped
Jacques Potgieter, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 1 cap
Pierre Spies, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 50 caps
Scrumhalves:
Ruan Pienaar, Ulster, Northern Ireland, 54 caps
Jano Vermaak, Vodacom Blue Bulls, uncapped.
Francois Hougaard, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 18 caps
Flyhalves:
Elton Jantjies, MTN Golden Lions, uncapped
Morné Steyn, Vodacom Blue Bulls,, 37 caps
Centres:
Jean de Villiers, DHL Western Province, 75 caps (captain)
JJ Engelbrecht, Vodacom Blue Bulls, uncapped
Frans Steyn, The Sharks, 49 caps
Wings:
Lwazi Mvovo, The Sharks, 4 caps
JP Pietersen, The Sharks 45 caps
Bryan Habana, DHL Western Province, 77 caps
Fullbacks:
Zane Kirchner, Vodacom Blue Bulls, 15 caps
Patrick Lambie, The Sharks, 13 caps
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too many fucking Bulls. Did Meyer not watch Super Rugby?
Very worried about the lack of depth at prop.
@Orelando_G (Comment 2) : ja – it’s a concern. How did “can’t scrum for shit” Greyling end up being our reserve loosehead?
🙄 What a joke!
@robdylan (Comment 1) : if I can through on a F-bomb… Fcking ditto!?!
Coenie still injured?
@Ben (Comment 6) : apparently
WTF has Kanko decided to go on a Japan $ making trip when his fom is looking good. Now we have to put up with soft*ock Spies again! Absolutley no imagination in team selection. Kiwi and Oz video analisis guys must have the easiest days when evaluating this team
This day can’t get any worse.. can not believe this…
And to think I was happy with HM’s appointment..
How can I support the team if the best player are not picked..
Loving rugby is becoming painful again – Lambie at fullback is working on my nerves, but then Kirchner as the only other alternative (according to our blue coach) is even worse.
M Steyn yet again at fh – but then if not Lambie (because Lambie will have to be a fb, ’cause sideshow Bob….really…no comment), who else. (no – not Elton)
And Pierre Spies, but then Kanko removed himself from the race by signing a 6 month contract to play in Japan.
Don’t even wanna talk about the blue locks – vomit
Dean “I can’t scrum but I can play dirty” Greyling – vomit x2
Everything points to: “Next year….definitely next year everything will be better, better selections, better SR season” 😥
Can we talk about what the Sharks will possibly look like for the CC already…maybe there’s some light there.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 10) : ja please, exiting times with some fresh, young players…
@FireTheLooser (Comment 10) : this team is gonna rock! (CC)
How is Ludik not in the squad??? We have Lambie, who is now considered a full-back but injury-prone and Zane “I don’t know how to defend” Kirchner… Man, this is bad. I was hoping for common sense with HM, but in some areas it’s the same shit over and over again as we had with P Divvy.
And how is Jano Vermaak (reserve scrum-half in Kicktoria) in the bok squad when we have guys like Piet van Zyl actually playing on a regular basis.
I am just very unhappy to see this squad without Anton Bresler, Gio Aplon and Ryan Kankowski, who all 3 are also in very good form.
@Franshark (Comment 11) : Guys that I am really looking forward to seeing in CC this year:
Herbst – he’s really looked good this SR season
Bressler + PSdT – Can’t hardly wait to see them forge their partnership, will be unstoppable
Whitehead + Jordaan – Butter, meet hot knife
Ludik – time to cement him as our fullback, no if’s, but’s or else’s
Positions I’m really nervous about: Scrumhalf and Flyhalf
@FireTheLooser (Comment 14) : Hoping Reinach gets a few chances at 9,
Hehehe…HM will learn the hard way.
So disappointed by the squad!! Potgieter ❓ Spies 😯 ❓ Morne Steyn 😐 ❓
What about Peter Grant, Kanko and Rynhard Elstadt?? I thought oz and New Zealand were looking a little weak until I saw our squad.
If we play the same way we did against England in the third test we’ll be slaughtered!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 14) :
1. Chadwick
2. Burden
3. Herbst
4. Sykes
5. Bresler
6. Botes
7. Deysel
8. Mthembu
9. McLeod
10. Viljoen
11. Ludik
12. Whitehead
13. Jordaan
14. Ndungane
15. Prinsloo
@Ben (Comment 18) : Or Sithole on wing and Ludik 15. Prinsloo to the bench.
Which I prefer.
You know it’s bad when you’re more bummed about the Bok Squad selected than about losing the Super Rugby final 🙄
@Ben (Comment 19) : @Ben (Comment 18) : Doesn’t Jordaan play flyhalf as well?
@ChrisS (Comment 21) : He has but no thanks.
@ChrisS (Comment 20) : I think its a case of diverting the attention to something else to be able to let the anger out! 😆
@Ben (Comment 19) : Agree on that one, think Prinsloo is one for the future, but Ludik – oh Ludik is a gem.
Also would rather have PSdT than Sykes, Bressler is already there to do the grunt work, PSdT adds to open play.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 24) : True.
@Ben (Comment 18) : Bosman most prob at 12 till Tim is recovered
@Ben (Comment 22) : Haven’t seen him there. Just remember someone mentioning it in a previous article.
@Ice (Comment 23) : I expected a loss due to the insane travel schedule. I didn’t expect a terrible Bok squad though
@FireTheLooser (Comment 24) : Psdt also did well @ flank for young bokkies
Do we have any backup stock to Dale worth talking about?
Dale has not been inspiring at all, I kind of see him as a week link. Didn’t we have someone with the baby Boks? van Dyk I think, or is he a th?
@Franshark (Comment 28) : Yeah he was great there, but I think in the interest of a long playing career and Sharks/Springbok rugby, he’s best developed at Lock.
We’ve got way too many loosies in SA – and far too few locks with his athletic ability.
Rob
There’s actually 5 Stormers players in the squad:
JDV, Habana, Bekker, Etzebeth and Kolisi. 😉
@robdylan (Comment 1) : His pink coloured glasses made it very difficult for him to get the whole picture 👿
That Morne Steyn is regarded as Springbok material after the rubbish season he’s had and the appalling form he’s in is indicative of the fact that it’s all over for Pat Lambie who will now be consigned to a position he’s ill suited for while a lesser man continues to ruin our chances of making any headway against stiff opposition by running out in the Bok No 10 shirt. I am sick of this s*** This means we won’t see Pat back a FH till next year, and only then if Plum has the balls to use him where he plays best. What a complete and utter WASTE OF TALENT 👿
Not a big deal really. Yes, Spies and Potgieter are awfully lucky, but you dont just drop your flyhalf on 3 bad Bok games – lets just hope that HM is going to pick (or drop) based on performance during the season.
Kanko cost himself a place, and as for Ludik and Bresler, most Sharks fans wouldnt have selected them at the beginning of the season, so we need to keep perspective on that one.
Jano Vermaak is a very good scrumhalf – how I wish we could lure him to Durbs.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 30) : good point…
Just fuck rugby in general.
Seems between HM and Plum they are going to destroy Lambie’s career with this obsession with him at 15. Today just confirmed it for me – Pat should concentrate on 10.
@Big Fish (Comment 34) : I hear you, but we are not at the beginning of the season.. And Anton and Ludik has proven to be better options, or do we wait till they loose form before we want to pick them, Kanko is not gone.. Ruan is from outside and if FdP made himself available he would have been there too…
@Bokhoring (Comment 37) : agree fully.. This should end, if Lambi is not picked at 10 then leave him at the Sharks to play CC at FH
@Franshark (Comment 38) : Hun, I so agree on that one!
@Ice (Comment 40) : Anton has shown up every lock in SA and many more in Aus/NZ.. I am furious that his not in the squad…
Seriously.. Potgieter and no HB… If they don’t want so many Sharks then pick Joe but geez Krusty… Come on…
(I should stop.. I’m getting way to worked up)
@Franshark (Comment 41) : Anton has beem superb, Ludik has been superb..someone asked me if Plums shunting around of the players has not had an influence…hell?! what was he supposed to do with injuries? he only has so many players at his disposal?? WTF was the poor guy suppose to do?
@Ice (Comment 43) :
It’s a fair question though. Lambie and Ludik didn’t have enough time in their preferred positions. Bresler is just unlucky in that he is behind two other good 5 locks. But if he remains consistent, he will get there.
@Big Fish (Comment 44) : thank you! Finally after 4 years you think my rants makes sense! 😆
Regarding Kankowski, someone on here mentioned his contract doesn’t make allowances for national callups otherwise I suspect both he and Olivier would still be in the team.
Surprise omissions? Only ones I can think of are Ludik or Pieterson (for Kirchner) and Brussouw (for Potgieter). Bresler’s time will come (and with the injury-prone Bekker probably sooner than later).
@vanmartin (Comment 46) : Just read that Brussouw is still injured.
I’m very happy for pat cilliers (the only surprise selection in this team for me). He really deserves it. Hope he gets some game time.
No other surprises for me. It’s basically the same team that was selected for the June tours, except Bekker in for Franco van der Merwe. Siya is in for Kanko, but he made that decision all on his own. Very peculiar given that a new coach just took over from the Boks, but maybe he had spoken to Meyer before hand and got a feeling it will be 3 minute stints here and there again… I would have left just for a change of scenery.
I think Dean Greyling has been good this season and except for Coenie (injured) and Steven Kitshoff who is still really young, he deserves this spot. I think Cillier may cover the bench though since he can scrum at tighthead and loosehead.
Bresler didn’t dominate anything. He’s been putting in really good defensive efforts and improving on his physicality with ball in hand, but I think he’s way of Bok selection. He will also have to take more responsibility at line out time if he wants any chance of of being considered and aside from Juandre Kruger who’s given a really good account of himself in his first stint as Springbok lock, there’s still Andries Bekker to get by, as well as a few other young talented players just starting to make their way onto the scene. We’ll see more of them and how Anton does against these players in the CC.
Give it time people.
Flip van der Merwe, according to me has never reached to potential that was promised from him and a better, more diverse replacement (that could possibly cover more positions) could be found for him.
Etsebeth, I’m sure, no one here is complaining about.
HM clearly doesn’t rate Brussouw and to be fair, he can’t really be selected based on current form, only reputation so I’m not complaining.
Kanko left. If I was Bok coach I would have been upset by this. He would have been my first choice 8, with Alberts and Marcell completing the loose trio.
I would basically select anyone above Spies though. Siya, Keegan, Alberts, Marcell… not Potgieter, his selection could be argued I suppose, but not with a very strong argument as we have so many injuries in this position and Potgieter actually gave a pretty good account of himself this season.
I don’t particularly like the guy and the look of him, but he’s basically picked as a last option and if he does get used I hope he does well, if not, then we’ll have an airtight argument for his replacement.
McLeod no. Duvenage no. Bondisio maybe, but only based on last years CC and a few games this year. Piet van Zyl after his first season potentially yes, but there’s still alot to be worked on. Sarel Pretorius didn’t do himself any favours.
Jano has played good rugby for about 4 or 5 years now. I always though he was a quality scrummy and was a bit baffled by his decision to go sit on the Bulls bench.
At least Goosen is still injured.
Morne would have to prove himself in the next few games. Average will be good enough though, since Meyer has confidence in him and won’t drop him too easily. I want Lambie to be given a shot, but it doesn’t work like that. You don’t just drop players that have done everything expected of them until their last three games.
South Africa have never had the guts to play a creative Fly Half like Lambie, even Jantjies and Goosen would be more of a safe option, as they’re more inclined to play to a gameplan, whereas Lambie plays to the game being played.
Also, Lambie’s been playing 15. He and he’s coaches hasn’t done much to help his chances here and in my opinion, the longer he plays at 15 the smaller his chances of maintaining a spot in the Bok team. He’s not a 15. A player like Taute could easily play him out of this position as he as a bigger boot, he’s stronger on his feet and overall just better suited to the position.
Anyone of the many talented centers in South Africa could have gotten a spot ahead of JJ, but then if JJ was not selected it would have been unfair against him too. Give him a chance to prove himself or show his unworthy before we kick him out.
Not that anyone here commented on him specifically, but he has been playing for the Bulls, that shouldn’t count against him. He has huge talent and clearly HM rates him more than he does de Jongh …. Ebersohn, Sade.
I suppose Ludik could have been selected ahead of Zane. He has done nothing to prove that he could become a Springbok great and I would rather have seen Joe P, Willie le Roux and Louis Ludik in his place.
Then there’s the injured Taute that may still come into contention.
There’s a few players I would have selected over him really, I just don’t think he’s up to standard.
But all in all….
… not all that much we can complain about, especially considering that this is the exact same team that was selected for the June tours and we should have expected this.
And that’s all I have to say. 😉 😀
Could be worse, but still not happy with this squad at all.
Could be rightfully upset if you were Steven Kitshoff, missing out to Greyling who’s been nothing short of a disaster whenever he puts on the Bok jersey.
The loose-forwards are a HUGE worry. Outside of Marcell Coetzee & Willem Alberts I have little faith in the others. Siya, on potential yes, but he’s got a lot of areas that he needs to work on. Adds little at line-outs and needs to up his workrate to something close to that of Marcell Coetzee if he wants to make it as a shorter guy who’s not as much of an enforcer or fetcher.
Jano Vermaak again makes it because he’s a Blue Bull. Piet van Zyl should’ve been in his spot.
Elton Jantjies, I have no idea why he’s been picked. But I guess Johan Goosen will take his spot sooner then later. Hopefully before Elton makes his debut.
And you could make a solid argument for any of Juan de Jongh, Gio Aplon, Joe Pietersen & Louis Ludik. (Jaco Taute as well if he were fit).
@Franshark (Comment 9) :
i agree …
Ai 🙄 🙁
@robdylan (Comment 1) : Rob , I thought swearing was taboo on this site??
@CLASSIC SHARK (Comment 61) : 😆