Bok 'hand-outs' not likely
There might be eight uncapped players in the Springbok training squad, but do not expect to see too many new caps in the June Tests.
Although encouraging for those called up to know that they are in coach Heyneke Meyer's plans, their chances of getting on the field for the Springboks next month look pretty slim.
The final squad for the June Tests will be named after the last Super Rugby matches before the break next weekend, and is likely to feature a lengthy list of overseas-based Boks as well.
Meyer's mantra since he has taken over as coach has been to pick the best team available, and with 18 Tests to go before the World Cup there does not seem much chance of him starting a promising young player who is not yet the best in his position.
Springbok captain Jean de Villiers told rugby365 in an interview that he believes there is no place for experimentation at Test level.
"The national team is the cream of the crop, and you get 12 Test matches a year to represent your country.
"As a player if you are regarded as the best in your position and you don't get selected you would feel pretty aggrieved to see another guy get that opportunity.
"The best players should play for the Springboks, that is what I feel and if you are good enough you will get an opportunity," he said.
Of course this does not mean that an inexperienced player would not be able to force his way into the team by outperforming his rivals.
"It shouldn't be youngsters or senior guys or whatever, it should be the best guys whether they have got no Tests or 50 Tests," said De Villiers.
Veterans Victor Matfield and Schalk Burger make their first appearance in a Bok squad since the 2011 World Cup this weekend, and De Villiers said that whilst it will be great to draw on their experience, they have earned their place on performance and not reputation.
"They can just add to the team, if you bring that wealth of experience into a squad it makes the captain's job that much easier, from a leadership point of view it helps a lot.
"You get over 200 caps from those guys so it is great to have them and it is not as if they are being selected just on their names, they are playing good rugby and they warrant selection.
"It is the same as the eight new guys that got selected, it is not about the name it is about the player and what he can do," he said.
The news that Scotland will be sending a depleted squad for their one-off Test match got a lot of people excited about the chance to 'give some players a chance'.
Whilst there will undoubtably be some players who make their Springbok debut between now and the World Cup, any thoughts of Meyer handing out Test caps to look at his options are a bit misguided.
What the June Tests should tell us is whether the incumbents and the overseas-based players can hold off the challenge of the 'bolters' that will report for their first training camp on Sunday.
By Michael de Vries
