Expect some new faces in Bok touring squad

Jacques van der Westhuyzen expects a few unlikely Springbok tourists to make the squad when it is named on Saturday. EPA/DAVE HUNT

Jacques van der Westhuyzen expects a few unlikely Springbok tourists to make the squad when it is named on Saturday. EPA/DAVE HUNT

Published Oct 22, 2016

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With up to 15 players who did duty in the Rugby Championship unavailable for the tour match against the Barbarians at Wembley on November 5, expect a few unlikely Springbok tourists to make the squad when it is named today.

As the match against the Baabaas falls outside the Test window, none of the Boks’ overseas-based players will be available to coach Allister Coetzee, meaning all of Willem Alberts, Johan Goosen, Bryan Habana, Steven Kitshoff, Morne Steyn, Willie le Roux, Francois Hougaard, Francois Louw, Vincent Koch, Jaco Kriel, Franco Mostert, Warren Whiteley, Lionel Mapoe and Elton Jantjies will be missing.

Also, lock Lood de Jager, who copped a one-match ban after his dangerous “clean-out” against the All Blacks in Durban a few weeks ago, will miss the Baabaas game.

And Louw, who picked up a hamstring injury playing for Bath recently, will miss the whole tour, opening the door for Jaco Kriel to make his first start in a Bok jersey.

The big question ahead of the naming of the tour squad - which in fact will be two squads, one for the Baabaas game and one for the Tests against England, Italy and Wales - is who’ll fill in for the overseas-based Boks against the Baabaas.

With both first-choice flyhalves out, Pat Lambie is almost sure to get a run at 10 again after earlier playing at fullback, but it is understood Coetzee has also been impressed with Niel Marais of the Cheetahs and the Bulls’ Tiaan Schoeman, who is favourite to get a look-in.

Marais’ Cheetahs team-mates Sergeal Petersen, captain Francois Venter and prop Ox Nche are also believed to be in the squad, possibly for all four tour matches. And with Louw out and uncertainty around the fitness of Sikhumbuzo Notshe and Siya Kolisi, who both missed the Rugby Championship, Coetzee is looking for a back-up to Kriel at openside flank.

It is understood Kwagga Smith is in the running, but also Bulls rookie Roelof Smit.

Whether Duane Vermeulen gets the nod for the three Tests is anyone’s guess, but it is unlikely seeing he has yet to play any rugby in months.

Frans Steyn, too, has been talked about as possibly coming in to strengthen the side, but it is unlikely at this stage and the same goes for Bismarck du Plessis.

Sadly, Coetzee has also got to start all over again with a new tighthead prop as only Koch will be available for the three Tests, so he’ll need to find a No 3 for the Baabaas game.

Maybe Trevor Nyakane will get a proper run or Lizo Gqoboka will be given his chance.

Remember Frans Malherbe and Julian Redelinghuys are injured and unavailable. So will there, as some have speculated, be a recall for Jannie du Plessis?

In some good news, wing Ruan Combrinck has recovered from the leg injury that kept him out of the Rugby Championship and he could get the call from Coetzee.

His Lions teammate Rohan Janse van Rensburg will also be hoping to get a look-in after his strong showing in Super Rugby and don’t be surprised if Ruan Pienaar got a call-up, especially as he knows the conditions in the northern hemisphere.

Expect two vastly different squads to be named after today’s Currie Cup final.

The Boks gather in Joburg tomorrow to start preparations for the four-match tour.

Saturday Star

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