Cape Town - Springbok coach Allister Coetzee hasn't ruled out the possibility of picking players based overseas, but insisted that form will again be the main criteria for selection when he picks the squad for the Rugby Championship.
Coetzee only picked three overseas-based players in his 31-man Bok squad for the Irish series. No 8 Duane Vermeulen, flank Francios Louw and rookie prop Steven Kitshoff all played a role at some stage in the series.
Veteran flyhalf Morne Steyn, who plays in France, was a late addition to the squad after Pat Lambie's injury in the first Test. But he only saw a few minutes in the second Test at Ellis Park as a blood replacement.
But it looks like Sevens stars Juan de Jongh and Cheslin Kolbe, who has been in good form in Super Rugby for the Stormers this year, will also not be considered for the Rugby Championship due to their participation at the Olympic Games in Rio in August.
But these two players may feature for the Boks on their November tour of Europe. “You must remember we also had six injuries leading up to the Third Test match, so I'm really happy that we have selected quite a good group of players for the Irish series,” Coetzee said.
“Obviously, players will need to keep performing in Super Rugby and we will check what we need to improve the squad. But for now I'm pleased with what we have,” the Springbok coach added.
Meanwhile, Coetzee's decision to appoint Adriaan Strauss as his captain until the end of the year essentially closes the door on France-based hooker Bismarck du Plessis returning to the side.
The Montpellier No 2 and a number of players plying their trade overseas are again likely to be overlooked for selection for the upcoming Rugby Championship in two months' time, after Coetzee hinted that he was satisfied with how his largely home-based squad performed in their 2-1 series victory against Ireland.
“I'm very happy with the players back home, although SA Rugby has given me the freedom to select as many overseas-based players as I can,” Coetzee said. “But I'm pleased that the players we currently have, to give them as much Tests as possible moving forward. If you don't have enough players in a certain position, we will look at overseas-based players.” - African News Agency (ANA)