Meyer: These are the best Boks
It may not be everybody's cup of tea, but Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer is adamant he has named the best 30, fit, players at present.
Meyer on Saturday included five uncapped players in a 30-man Springbok squad for the inaugural Rugby Championship – which gets underway on August 18, when the South Africa face newcomers Argentina at Newlands.
Stormers loose forward Siya Kolisi, Lions prop Pat Cilliers, Bulls utility back JJ Engelbrecht, Lions flyhalf Elton Jantjies and Bulls scrumhalf Jano Vermaak are the uncapped players.
Engelbrecht, Jantjies and Vermaak were part of the Bok squad for the June Tests against England, but did not make an appearance.
Meyer also recalled veteran Stormers lock Andries Bekker, who returns after two years on the Test sidelines because of injuries.
The Bok squad will assemble in Cape Town on Sunday.
Some critics will question the presence of the out-of-form Bulls contingent like Morné Steyn and Pierre Spies, while others will wonder where is Peter Grant.
However, Meyer spoke of the need for continuity, while slowly introducing the flood of youngsters that have put up their hands this year.
"We are playing the best teams in the world now [New Zealand, Australia and Argentina], but I am very happy for the new guys," Meyer said at the team announcement in Worcester on Saturday.
"Pat Cilliers proved that he is back to full fitness," he said of the Lions prop, who missed a chunk of the Super Rugby season through injury.
"I am very happy to add Siya Kolisi, he is playing great rugby," he said of the Stormers firebrand.
"I was impressed with him when he was part of the squad during the June internationals and I think it is well deserved."
The inclusion of the youngsters is also with a view to the future.
"We now want to expose some of the young players, even though they may not always be in the matchday 22.
"However, you want to have the situation that when you get to the World Cup [in 2015] that some of these players already have 20 or 30 Tests behind their name.
"You do need experience in the World Cup.
"What really excites me about this team is the balance between the experienced players and the youngsters coming through – I feel it is a well-balanced team."
Meyer said the players will have the next two Tests to prove their worth, before he names a squad for the next leg of the Championship.
"These are the best 30, fit, players at the moment," the Bok mentor said, adding: "I want the players to realise they must step up to the plate every single game and that is why I am not announcing the squad long-term.
"There are a lot of players coming back from injury … like Duane Vermeulen and CJ van der Linde.
"Heinrich Brussow is injured at the moment, so he will come back, and a few others as well.
"I also had a long look at some overseas players.
"These guys know they have two games to prove themselves."
Meyer pointed out that most of the current squad featured against England.
"We want to keep some kind of continuity, but it is also clear to the players that if they don't perform in these two Tests then there are other players available."
The squad of 30 will be trimmed to 26 for the Springboks' trip to Mendoza, where they play Argentina on August 25.
A decision on which four players will not travel to South America will be announced after the Test at Newlands.
By Jan de Koning, in Worcester
