Rassie's options for season opener
Rassie Erasmus currently has 50-odd players at his disposal in a training camp in Johannesburg, in preparation for the international season.
Next week, Saturday, June 20, the Springboks will ‘warm up’ for the start of the Nations Championship with a double-header against the iconic Barbarians club and the Zimbabwe national team.
The Boks will face the BaaBaas, while South Africa ‘A’ and Zimbabwe will go head-to-head in the curtain raiser.
The Springbok squad for the Nations Championship clashes against England (July 4), Scotland (July 11), and Wales (July 18), will be announced on Sunday, June 21, following the United Rugby Championship Final between Leinster and the Bulls two days earlier.
With the Bulls and a Premiership star such as Thomas du Toit (Bath) unavailable for the Port Elizabeth double-header next week, the teams will come from the 50-odd players currently in camp.
Yet, the team must, as far as possible, resemble the squad that will start the international season a fortnight later.
Still a sizeable chunk of players are not available.
This includes Bath-based Du Toit, Johan Grobbelaar, Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Wilco Louw, Ruan Nortje, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie, Embrose Papier and Handre Pollard.
Despite this challenge, Erasmus can field a very formidable team.
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I don’t profess to know the Bok coach’s thought processes, but I have enough experience with Erasmus to know that he is always working with a plan and will be ‘creative’ with his selections.
Once again, I will do my best to play selector and name the Bok 23 and an SA ‘A’ selection to feature at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The Springbok team for next week will also reflect what the side may look like against England, keeping in mind that at least 14 players will join the Boks before the season starts in July.
And the assumption is that all the selected players are fit and have not picked up any undisclosed injuries recently.
Keep in mind, these are #MY selections, with a view to how accurately I can foretell what the Bok coach will deliver.
So here goes!
SPRINGBOKS v BaaBaas: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jessie Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese , 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Zachary Porthen, 18 Boan Venter, 19 Vincent Tshituka, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Haashim Pead, 22 Luan Giliomee, 23 Aphelele Fassi.
SA ‘A’ v Zimbabwe: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Jaco Williams, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Jurenzo Julius, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Riley Norton (captain), 4 Ruben van Heerden. 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Liam van Wyk, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Danie Kruger, 19 Evan Roos, 20 Bathobele Hlekani, 21 Sibabalwe Mahashe, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Luan Giliomee.
@JanDKrugby
@rugby365com
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