Cell C Sharks centre S’bura Sithole has been rewarded for a great Super Rugby campaign to date by being included in Bok coach Heyneke Meyer’s 36-man squad, for a training camp to be held in Durban later this month.
The squad, which includes on Fourie du Preez out of a slew of foreign-based players, nonetheless provides some strong hints as to which players have impressed the Bok coach so far in 2014 and will now come strongly into the reckoning for squad places when the final squad for the June internationals is named.
The big news will be the return of Heinrich Brüssow; the Cheetahs flanker was a mainstay under former coach Peter de Villiers, but has now been included for the first time in a Bok squad convened by Meyer. Schalk Burger and Victor Matfield also return after long spells out, but their inclusions are perhaps less surprising.
Sithole is one of a handful of uncapped players invited to attend. Cheetahs forwards Lood de Jager and Teboho Mohoje are there, as are the Bulls pair of Marcel van der Merwe and Jacques du Plessis. New faces at the back are Lions flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff, Stormers centre Damian de Allende, Cheetahs wing (and former Blitzbok) Cornall Hendricks and Sithole.
The Sharks are otherwise well-represented, with only Lourens Adriaanse falling out of the frame (after making his test debut late last year). Beast Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Marcell Coetzee, Willem Alberts, Frans Steyn, JP Pietersen, Sithole and Lwazi Mvovo comprise a 9-strong contingent. The Cheetahs also have 9 players in the squad, the Stormers and Bulls 8 each.
Meanwhile, SARU have revealed that Jaque Fourie has sustained a serious ankle injury which is likely to curtail his test participation during June.
The 36-man Springbok training squad is:
Forwards (20): Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Toyota Cheetahs), Marcel van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls)*, Jannie du Plessis (Cell C Sharks), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Coenie Oosthuizen (Toyota Cheetahs), Bismarck du Plessis (Cell C Sharks), Adriaan Strauss (Toyota Cheetahs), Eben Etzebeth (DHL Stormers), Lood de Jager (Toyota Cheetahs)*, Victor Matfield (Vodacom Bulls), Flip van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls), Heinrich Brüssow (Toyota Cheetahs), Marcell Coetzee (Cell C Sharks), Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers), Willem Alberts (Cell C Sharks), Jacques du Plessis (Vodacom Bulls)*, Teboho Mohoje (Toyota Cheetahs)*, Duane Vermeulen (DHL Stormers), Schalk Burger (DHL Stormers).
Backs (16): Fourie du Preez (Suntory, Japan), Francois Hougaard (Vodacom Bulls), Johan Goosen (Toyota Cheetahs), Marnitz Boshoff (Lions)*, Jean de Villiers (DHL Stormers), Damian De Allende (DHL Stormers)*, Jan Serfontein (Vodacom Bulls), Juan de Jongh (DHL Stormers), JJ Engelbrecht (Vodacom Bulls), S’bura Sithole (Cell C Sharks)*, Frans Steyn (Cell C Sharks), Lwazi Mvovo (Cell C Sharks), Bjorn Basson (Vodacom Bulls), JP Pietersen (Cell C Sharks), Cornal Hendricks (Toyota Cheetahs)*, Willie le Roux (Toyota Cheetahs).
* uncapped.
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No Tera, I’m sure there was a spot for him somewhere?
So no Morné Steyn?
Stoked! Can’t help but wonder what Plum’s reaction would be upon being informed of S’bu inclusion…? 😆
@FireTheLooser (Comment 2) : Don’t get your hopes up just yet – looks like none of the Europe based players are included.
Trevor Nyakane?? Really??
@MysticShark (Comment 4) : Yeah, see Habana is also not there, though he might be injured…again.
Can’t believe Basson is there again. 🙄
Edit: Just saw on R365 that euro players weren’t considered for this group.
Only 2 scrumhalves….interesting. Altho this is clearly just the locally based players + FDP. Nice to see players in form being rewarded. But Bjorn Basson…really??
@bokbok (Comment 5) : the oak can dance
Mvovo’s back! 😎
Was really hopeful that Lewies would get a look in but sure his time will come. He’s likely only an injury away from the training squad. Same probably goes for Adriaanse. They’ll just need to be patient. Congrats to Sbu!
@Quintin (Comment 1) : Also no Rocket, he probably doesn’t exist to HM.
@Quintin (Comment 10) : @FireTheLooser (Comment 6) : So there is hope 🙄
@FireTheLooser (Comment 2) : @FireTheLooser (Comment 6) : they are still participating in European competitions
@FireTheLooser (Comment 6) : To be fair though, Kolisi also shouldn’t be selected on current form (although I can’t remember Basson ever impressing in a Bok jersey?)
Question: I like Francois Louw but with both Coetzee and Brussouw in the selection frame (and assuming they make it into the squad), should Flouw be considered too?
@vanmartin (Comment 14) : Yes , definitely. He transforms when he gets into that green and gold.
I thought Frans Steyn would be missing the RC due to him doing a Kankowski deal in Japan?
Also would have liked to see Warren Whitely in the squad
With decent flyhalf depth a bit thin, I would have thought Sias Ebersohn might have got a look in, instead 7 centres are picked and only 2 flyhalves, but Frans Steyn can also slot in at 10.
Glad about Jacques du Plessis, De Allende and Sithol – they really surprised me this year.
8 sharks in squad and hopefully they will be in the final team. PSDT still injured and will be in the team ! Well done Sharks ! Mistake not to choose Adriaanse! Trevor ?????
I know I can be biased but the guy I think should be in a training group on pure form is Stefan Lewies. What an incredible season the youngster has had. On Saturday he was up against two of the best around and was brilliant! What a work rate!
@vanmartin (Comment 14) : I was thinking the same thing.
Can’t go wrong with any 3 of those at open side, so would be good to see the SA based players in the front of the queue.
@vanmartin (Comment 9) : Hate to say I told you so, but…. I told you so
I love the fact that the team in 12th position in the Super Rugby log has the same number of players as the team at the very top and 13th position has 1 less player. And as for captains…Bissie has clearly proven his leadership this year, his team are top
This sums up why I couldn’t care less about the boke under Meyer, sure some reward of form, but then there are the same old players that are always usless, and this isn’t including all the same old Euro players we will see join up. Pathetic, boring and the result will be the same as always.
@Shones (Comment 22) : Baffling isn’t it.
So, pre-game talk on SkySports with Lynagh and Fitzy before the Sharks Saders game, they talked about possibility of Bismarck as Bok captain in the event of Jean not been available. They touched on how this is a key game, in terms of Bismarcks captaincy credentials, to rally his troops, lift the team after a disappointing loss, as well as put in an own performance that is more to his exceptionally high standard.
Up until Saturday I’ve always been a bit worried about the Bok captain should Jean get injured. That is no longer the case.
@Culling Song (Comment 21) : Rub it in will you? Next one’s on me 😉
@gregkaos (Comment 25) : Thankfully, Strauss won’t be the other option as captain anymore. His temperament as captain has become sketchy…temper tantrums abound.
Bismarck also knows how to lead his team to victory with the odds and officials and venue stacked against them.
As JW said at the start of the season, Bismarck wins…that’s what he does.
No Cobus, thought he would be in the squad atleast.
Nice one Sbura! More to come from the lad. Now send Plumtree that announcement. 😆
Bjorn Basson. One has to love the one.
@Honey Badger (Comment 28) : A sharks scrumhalf ahead of a past-his-prime former bull and never-in-his-prime current bulls scrumhalf….not gonna happen.
If he does that, he’ll have to consider Kockott…though Kockott might actually have the gall to flip HM the bird. 😈
@FireTheLooser (Comment 30) : 😆 😆
@FireTheLooser (Comment 30) : I unsure of two things regarding Kockott:
1. Would he fit into the Bok team culture?
2. Does he want to play for the Boks (or is he aiming for a Franch call-up)?
I agree with what’s been said above regarding Lewies and also in regards to Sias Ebersohn, they’ve both been playing well so far this season. No Reinach is a bit of a disappointment but I’m sure his time will come.
Missing:
1. S Lewies(Lock)
2. Willemse(Lock)
3. Cobus R(Scrumhalf)
4. Warren W(8thman)
Trevor is one of our best scrummagers and is very strong in the loose. I would have called SP rather than Basson and maybe Coetzee as the 3rd hooker to biuld for the future
@vanmartin (Comment 32) : I can’t see Kockott fitting into the very Afrikaans HM Bok culture….even Lambie struggled to fit in, so Kockott will definitely clash with the team “dynamic”….he’ll challenge way too many a bok van blerk fanboy bulls player. 😈
Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Toyota Cheetahs), Marcel van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls)*, Jannie du Plessis (Cell C Sharks), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Coenie Oosthuizen (Toyota Cheetahs)
❗ Drop Nyakane for Julian Redelinghuys and Marcel van der Merwe for BJ Botha. ❗
Bismarck du Plessis (Cell C Sharks), Adriaan Strauss (Toyota Cheetahs) ❗ Who will our third choice hooker be? ❗
Eben Etzebeth (DHL Stormers), Lood de Jager (Toyota Cheetahs)*, Victor Matfield (Vodacom Bulls), Flip van der Merwe (Vodacom Bulls)
❗ PSDT in for Lood next year ❗
Heinrich Brüssow (Toyota Cheetahs), Marcell Coetzee (Cell C Sharks), Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers), Willem Alberts (Cell C Sharks), Jacques du Plessis (Vodacom Bulls)*, Teboho Mohoje (Toyota Cheetahs)*, Duane Vermeulen (DHL Stormers), Schalk Burger (DHL Stormers).
❗ Juan Smith in for Jacques du Plessis (his time will come) and Arno Botha in for Mohoje. ❗
Backs (16): Fourie du Preez (Suntory, Japan), Francois Hougaard (Vodacom Bulls)
❗ Cobus Reinach or Kockott should be in instead of Hougaard unless Hougaard is considered at 11, 14, 13 or 15!! ❗
Johan Goosen (Toyota Cheetahs), Marnitz Boshoff (Lions)*
❗ Lambie will come in in Goosen’s place ❗
Jean de Villiers (DHL Stormers), Damian De Allende (DHL Stormers)*, Jan Serfontein (Vodacom Bulls), Juan de Jongh (DHL Stormers), JJ Engelbrecht (Vodacom Bulls), S’bura Sithole (Cell C Sharks)*, Frans Steyn (Cell C Sharks), Lwazi Mvovo (Cell C Sharks), Bjorn Basson (Vodacom Bulls), JP Pietersen (Cell C Sharks), Cornal Hendricks (Toyota Cheetahs)*, Willie le Roux (Toyota Cheetahs).
❗ I’d have liked SP Marais to get a look-in ahead of Bjorn Basson whom I feel is predictable and weak on defense ❗
@Chippa (Comment 34) : Completely forgot about Warren Whiteley – would have like him there but wasn’t holding my breath.
@MikeSebMatt (Comment 19) : @Chippa (Comment 34) : Agree on Lewies and Cobus. Though Cobus just needs to work on his basic SH duties. WW also a valid option for a squad player.
The game plan is going to rely on a strong kicking game again, that is the reason why Basson is there. He is generally useless, but he is good at the kick and chase game, yet even all the Bulls supporters I know can’t stand him.
@ChrisS (Comment 36) : 3rd choice hooker? Look no further than our own KC, although he did not have much game time in SR, remember who stood in for Bismark most of the CC.
Warren Whiteley the unlucky one not to be selected
@Quintin (Comment 40) : I was also thinking of him but Heyneke Meyer NEVER sees things the way that we do! 😕
@vanmartin(Comment37)maybe he is too small for HM,@ChrisS I would replace Coenie mainly because he is seen as a TH and not a LH which Nyakane is,Marcel has been very strong and deserves to be there, Cobus should be the 3rd SH and Hougaard has been on the up recently. I would also have De Allende as a wing with a plathora of centre’s
Victor will captain the 2015 Boks,thats what he was promised to come out of retirement.
Although I do not agree with it,it is at least an improvement on JdeV,who is way past his sell by date.
The Province boys and the Bulls would never play under Bismark.
Whitely will never get a look in , and Jaques du Plessis is only there because he is a Bull.
Sadie should have got a look in ahead of Engelbrecht and de Jong.
Redlinghuis and the Lions scrummie also ignored for the wrong reasons.
@ChrisS (Comment 42) : Lets just hope some of his “selections” are caused by temporary blindness, or something, anything , rather than him thinking those are the best options.
@Chippa (Comment 43) : I’d switch Coenie to LH. I’m still not convinced about him as a TH.
@The hound (Comment 44) : I agree about Faf de Klerk. He’s very much like Aaron Smith and deserves to be in the Training Squad.
I also think Johan Sadie has had a great season even in a struggling side,whom might have been picked ahead of JJ
@The hound (Comment 44) : If they won’t play under Bismarck then why should our boys play under Jean or Victor…cos we not childish that’s why! If Bissie is captaining the team that is not only top of SA conference but top of combined conference then he’s obviously doing something right. If guys won’t be team players then they shouldn’t play. Unfair for a guy to come out of retirement and walk straight back into Bok side & captain it
@ChrisS (Comment 46) : I’d wait a while before picking Faf de Klerk – I feel there is potential, but he’s a bit raw for me. This is his first Super season.
@The hound (Comment 44) : Jacques du Plessis’ game this year really came about and would not write him off so quickly. Don’t know why Province and Bulls players won’t play under Bismarck. Both sets of players played under Smit, who was a Shark as well.
My comment is that Victor only came out of retirement because he was promised the captaincy at the 2015 World Cup.
Provincal politics have always been a huge in S.A. rugby.They are nothing new.
Meyer wears a blue cap and he plays a blue game,that is why he needs a Bulls captain.
Victor has surprised me ,he is nearly back to his best,a ask Brok Harris who got his knee to his head in the last game whether he still has it,or Scarra Ntubeni,who was led off with birds circling his head,after meeting Vic in the loose.
Most of the players will find it very easy to follow Vic.in exactly the same way PdeV used John Smit
I believe Kockott is actually in the World XV squad to FACE the Boks. Correct me if I’m wrong.
I also thought Reinach deserved a call-up, and so too Lewies.
I reckon it’s a pity that most of this squad won’t see any game time once the over-seas players become available.
@vanmartin (Comment 26) : pity Lewies did not get an invite. Young man must just be patient his time will come!!!
@vanmartin (Comment 37) : thanx for the e-mail did receive it. Must still do the download.
I am amazed and sort of impressed with the SS journos ability to turn every Sharks article into an opportunity to elaborate on how good the streamers actually are, and how big a threat they are to the Sharks. 🙄
They’ll make the ultimate pr spin team. 😉
@David12246 (Comment 51) : If we don’t cap him the French are likely to…
@lostfish (Comment 55) : don’t think Rory would be interested in playing for the Bokke.
@lostfish (Comment 55) : …which makes me very frustrated. Of all countries, why does it have to be France?
Don t you guys feel Reinach deserved a call up?
@Original Pierre (Comment 58) : based on his last 2 games? No.
@robdylan (Comment 59) : Rob I know I’m a bit fast but any news on Deysel yet?
@Original Pierre (Comment 58) : He needs to work more on the basics of scrumhalf play. He can turn a match on its head with his opportunistic breaks though.
@Original Pierre (Comment 58) : no need as the scrumhalfs will be Du Preez and Hougaard. Let him concentrate on getting over his injury and back into form before the season starts again in July.