Boks may get some more bite
Should Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer wish to rest some overworked players during South Africa's year-end tour, there are a number of readymade replacements.
The final squad for the year-end tour will be announced on Monday, October 27, before the players gather for a pre-departure camp in Johannesburg on Wednesday, October 29.
Meyer, not normally predispositioned to selecting second-string teams, is on record as describing the four-Test trip as vital in terms of the Boks' build-up to the World Cup in England next year.
However, Lions coach Johan Ackermann feels the Currie Cup finalists – Western Province and the Golden Lions – have players that won't let their country down.
The Lions have only two current Springboks – captain Warren Whiteley and flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff, neither of who are contracted Boks.
WP have five contracted Boks who took part in the just completed week-long training camp in Stellenbosch – Damian de Allende (centre/wing), Jean de Villiers (centre), Eben Etzebeth (lock), Siya Kolisi (loose forward) and Duane Vermeulen (No 8).
Then they have a few other Boks, still hovering on the fringes of national selection – Siyabonga Ntubeni (who is not officially a Bok, but a member of the 2013 year-end tour squad), Pat Cilliers (six caps) and Juan de Jongh (14 Tests).
Ackermann, speaking in the wake of his team's 16-19 loss to Province in the Currie Cup Final at Newlands at the weekend, said Meyer need not look too far beyond the finalists for replacements.
"I feel that [flank] Jaco Kriel has had an outstanding season, as well as our front row [Schalk van der Merwe, Robbie Coetzee and Ruan Dreyer]," the Lions mentor said.
"I don't know if [Springbok coach] Heyneke [Meyer] wants to rest some players for the year-end tour and give some new guys a run.
"Hopefully we'll see a few new faces among the front rows or the flanks, who could join Warren [Whiteley].
"There are other guys who were consistent throughout the season.
"Lionel Mapoe won't let any Bok team down – he has that X-factor."
It is not just the Lions who could have a new Bok or two.
WP No.8 Nizaam Carr has been one of the stand-out players of the Currie Cup season, while Sevens Bok Seabelo Senatla has made public his desire to add the 15-a-side jersey Bok jersey to his already impressive collection of honours.
Players who took part in the Stellenbosch training camp: Yuseph Abrahams (scrumhalf), Lourens Adriaanse (prop), Willem Alberts (loose forward), Marcell Coetzee (loose forward), Damian de Allende (centre/wing), Lodewyk de Jager (lock), Jean de Villiers (centre), Bismarck du Plessis (hooker), Jannie du Plessis (prop), Johannes Engelbrecht (centre/wing), Eben Etzebeth (lock), Lizo Gqoboka (prop), Cornal Hendricks (wing), Francois Hougaard (scrumhalf), Siya Kolisi (loose forward), Patrick Lambie (flyhalf/fullback), Willie le Roux (fullback/wing), Victor Matfield (lock), Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), Teboho Mohoje (loose forward), Tendai Mtawarira (prop), Lwazi Mvovo (wing), Trevor Nyakane (prop), Coenie Oosthuizen (prop), Rudy Paige (scrumhalf), Handré Pollard (flyhalf), Cobus Reinach (scrumhalf), Jan Serfontein (centre), Adriaan Strauss (hooker), Flip van der Merwe (lock), Marcel van der Merwe (prop) and Duane Vermeulen (No 8).
South African's tour itinerary:
Saturday, November 8: v Ireland, Dublin
Saturday, November 15: v England, London
Saturday, November 22: v Italy, Padova
Saturday, November 29: v Wales, Cardiff
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
