Cheetahs captain Francois Venter will have an opportunity to stake a real claim for the Test No 13 jersey after being included in the Springbok starting line-up for Saturday’s clash against Barbarians in London.
Venter, who guided his province to their fifth Currie Cup title, has been rewarded for his leadership and on-field performances this year, where he has excelled in Super Rugby as well.
He will form a hard-hitting midfield pair with Lions ace Rohan Janse van Rensburg, who will be trying to prove to Bok coach Allister Coetzee that he should also have been included in the Test squad for matches against England, Italy and Wales.
Another interesting selection is that of Jesse Kriel at fullback. The Bulls star has been in the Bok mix as an outside centre this year, but with the likes of Willie le Roux and Johan Goosen having failed to nail down the No 15 jersey, the game at Wembley Stadium (4.30pm kickoff) will give Kriel a chance to showcase his talents from the back, which he is arguably better suited for.
A number of other Currie Cup stand-outs such as Sergeal Petersen, Jamba Ulengo, Roelof Smit and RG Snyman will also run out in the starting XV, but strangely there was no place for Cheetahs blindside flank Uzair Cassiem in the match-23. Cassiem was the Man of the Match in the Currie Cup final, and was outstanding during Super Rugby as well.
Test incumbent Oupa Mohoje will play at No 7, with Sharks youngster Jean-Luc du Preez the back-up loose forward on the bench.
Western Province No 8 Nizaam Carr is back on the international scene for the first time since November 2014, and he would want to exercise his skill and versatility to try and force his way into the Test 23 as well.
Wing Ruan Combrinck also makes a welcome return to rugby following two months out with a broken leg, and he will come off the bench.
But a number of the 30-odd man squad didn’t get a look-in, such as Cheslin Kolbe and Thomas du Toit, while Test players such as Damian de Allende and Faf de Klerk are not in the match-23 either. Captain Adriaan Strauss is being rested, with Pat Lambie announced as the skipper earlier in the week.
“It will be a really big occasion for our young players, but we’re excited to be giving them an opportunity. Even though some of the experienced players were last in action against New Zealand four weeks ago, our preparation the past few weeks was really good,” Coetzee said in a statement on Thursday.
“The excitement and enthusiasm of the new inclusions is contagious. In ideal circumstances I would’ve preferred to give every player in the squad a run, but this tour was also about introducing players who are on our radar for the future, while also introducing them to the Springbok way and ethos. I am sure they will work even harder to stay in the squad.”
Springbok Team
15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Patrick Lambie (captain), 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Roelof Smit, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Bench: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Jean-Luc du Preez, 21 Piet van Zyl, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 Ruan Combrinck.