Scarra can prove Bok point

Scarra Ntubeni's body hasn't done him any favours over the years. Photo: Chris Ricco

Scarra Ntubeni's body hasn't done him any favours over the years. Photo: Chris Ricco

Published Jun 8, 2016

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Cape Town - Scarra Ntubeni spoke last week about having had to carry his Springbok blazer on his arm over the last three years, and it was hoped that the long wait would end against Ireland at Newlands this weekend.

But Ntubeni was one of the four players who were released by Springbok coach Allister Coetzee to the South African A side for their clash against the England Saxons in Bloemfontein on Friday night (7pm kickoff).

Flyhalf Garth April, scrumhalf Nic Groom and flank Sikhumbuzo Notshe were the other members of the Bok squad who joined up with Johan Ackermann’s SA A side on Wednesday.

Ntubeni was probably the closest of the four to making their Test debut against Ireland on Saturday, and it would’ve been a fairytale come true on his home ground at Newlands.

But it was not to be, with Stormers teammate Bongi Mbonambi preferred as the back-up hooker to Bok captain Adriaan Strauss. Mbonambi has improved his overall contribution on the field during Super Rugby this year, particularly as a ball-carrier able to burst through the middle.

His lineout-throwing has also better in 2016 compared to the past, although far from the consistency that has resulted in Strauss being installed as the No 1 hooker for the foreseeable future.

Ntubeni, though, will feel he has a point to prove for SA A against the Saxons, who have a number of Test players in their ranks, including flyhalf Danny Cipriani, lock and captain Dave Attwood and tighthead Kieran Brookes.

A former Stormers loose forward, Don Armand, has made great progress at Exeter Chiefs and will start at blindside flank (No 6 in the northern hemisphere). He will face two ex-Western Province teammates in Nizaam Carr and Sikhumbuzo Notshe, who would also like to advance their Test claims with a strong showing at the Free State Stadium.

There were some surprise selections in the starting line-up announced on Wednesday, though, particularly in the backline. With no specialist fullback included in the squad, Stormers wing Leolin Zas will line-up at No 15 in a strange move, as Zas didn’t possess much of a kicking boot and hasn’t played in the position at provincial or Super Rugby level.

The likes of Lions pair Jaco van der Walt and Andries Coetzee miss out through injury, but Cheetahs fullback Clayton Blommetjies and even Lions newcomer Sylvian Mahuza may have been a better option in the last line of the SA A defence.

Cheetahs right wing Sergeal Petersen was in the SA A squad, but has been left out entirely despite being joint-second on the Super Rugby try-scorers’ list with eight, with the Bulls’ Travis Ismaiel picked at No 14.

At loosehead prop, Sharks youngster Thomas du Toit got the nod over Lizo Gqoboka, who has been superb and a regular starter for the Bulls, with the Lions’ in-form No 1 Dylan Smith also unlucky to be left out.

On the bench, Coenie Oosthuizen – who has battled at tighthead all season long – still gets a look-in at the expense of a number of strong No 3s such as Lourens Adriaanse and Maks van Dyk.

Teams For Bloemfontein

South Africa A: 15 Leolin Zas, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Garth April, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr (2 Springbok Test caps), 7 Oupa Mohoje (captain, 8 caps), 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 Stephan Lewies (1 cap), 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Vincent Koch (2 caps), 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Thomas du Toit.

Bench:16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen (23 caps), 19 RG Snyman, 20 Jean-Luc du Preez, 21 Piet van Zyl (2 caps), 22 Francois Brummer, 23 Lukhanyo Am.

England Saxons:15 Mike Haley, 14 Alex Lewington, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Ollie Devoto (1 England Test cap), 11 Semesa Rokoduguni (1 cap), 10 Danny Cipriani (14 caps), 9 Dan Robson, 8 Sam Jones, 7 Matt Kvesic (3 caps), 6 Don Armand, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Dave Attwood (captain, 23 caps), 3 Kieran Brookes (16 caps), 2 Tommy Taylor (1 cap), 1 Alec Hepburn.

Bench:16 George McGuigan, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 19 Mitch Lees, 20 Dave Ewers, 21 Micky Young, 22 Sam James, 23 Christian Wade (1 cap).

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