Rose a step closer to Bok No.15
The inclusion of Earl Rose at fullback and Morgan Newman at centre are the big bolters in the South African XV, to play a Namibian Invitation XV in Windhoek on Friday, which was named on Wednesday.
The selection brings Rose, a Springbok tourist to the United Kingdom in November last year, a step closer to his first cap.
Bok coach Peter de Villiers, who named 12 players with Test experience in the matchday squad to face the selection, has been a long-time admirer of Rose’s qualities.
Despite the Lions utility back’s poor Super 14 season, De Villiers believes he has the ‘X-Factor’ and if given enough opportunities to play will develop into a special player.
The same applies to Newman, who was plucked from the relative obscurity of the Western Province Vodacom Cup team to the national training squad.
He falls in the same category as Rose, according to De Villiers, who feel they just need “opportunities” and will repay the faith he is showing in them.
Rose and Newman are among the three uncapped players in the starting XV.
The third is Sharks loose forward Jean Deysel.
A further three uncapped players were selected on the bench – Cheetahs prop Wian du Preez, Sharks lock Steven Sykes and Lions scrumhalf Jano Vermaak.
“We know what we have in our established players and want to use this match as an opportunity to see what the new players offer and also give them an opportunity to show what they can do at another level,” said De Villiers.
John Smit will captain the side from tighthead, the same position at which he started the November Tests against Wales and Scotland.
Smit did well against the Welsh, before an injury to Bismarck du Plessis forced him to revert to hooker against the Scots.
Next to Smit, Du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira complete a very strong front row. Together they anchored the scrum in a number of Super 14 matches for the Sharks this season.
De Villiers has also picked a number of experienced Boks on the bench.
“What experienced players like John Smit, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger and Jean de Villiers give to the team is massive to the group. We empower them to make an impact in the team,” said the Springbok coach.
“We are blessed in South Africa in that we have so many good rugby players. If a player is good enough to play Super 14 he could be good enough to make the step up to the Springbok side. What we look for at this level, are finer but very relevant items such as attitude and discipline, if they fit into the team dynamic and combinations.
“I am very happy with the preparations for this game. We had a good session on Wednesday and will take it up a level in Windhoek when we arrive on Thursday. I am impressed with the attitude of the guys here and with the speed at which they have settled and got the systems working.”
SA XV: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Jongi Nokwe, 13 Morgan Newman, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Odwa Ndungane, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Johann Muller, 3 John Smit (captain), 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Wian du Preez, 18 Steven Sykes, 19 Juan Smith, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Jano Vermaak, 22 Jean de Villiers, 23 Adi Jacobs, 24 JP Pietersen.
Date: Friday, May 29
Venue: Hage Geingob Stadium, Windhoek
Kick-off: 18.00 (16.00 GMT)
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Touch judges: Phillip Bosch (South Africa), TBC (Namibia)
* Is Rose the answer at No.15? What about Newman at centre? Give us your views!
