Johannesburg – The first of two planned national Springbok training camps before the international season begins will take place in Cape Town this coming weekend, the SA Rugby Union said on Tuesday.
The camp, with 36 players invited to attend, will take between Sunday and Tuesday following the completion of the week's Super Rugby games on Saturday, where the Stormers face the Sharks and the Bulls play the Cheetahs.
“With minimal time to prepare for the series involving Italy, Scotland and Samoa, we've approached the franchises, in line with the IRB Regulations, to ask for their assistance with these two camps,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
“It's important to keep continuity and it was very difficult to select only 36 players, as there are many more that are currently playing great rugby.
“There have been a number of new faces that have put up their hands this year, such as Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jan Serfontein and Robert Ebersohn, while we also have a high number of players out with injuries, but who will be available for the Tests in June.”
He said the invited group were by no means the final one for the June Tests and could still change in the coming months.
“There are other players that impressed me in the last couple of weeks and if they continue to keep up their form I will look at them for the second camp,” he said.
The majority of those invited played for the Springboks last year, while Du Toit and Serfontein, two members of last year's winning SA U20 Junior World Championship, were also invited.
Handré Pollard, who also played for the Junior Boks in 2012, was considered for the camp, but it was decided that it would be better for him and the SA U20s' preparations if he toured with Dawie Theron's squad to Argentina.
The invited group includes a number of injured players who should be available in June.
Andries Bekker, who will play club rugby in Japan at the completion of the Vodacom Super Rugby season, and the injured Jaco Taute were not considered.
Three other overseas-bound Springboks, Bryan Habana, Morné Steyn and Juandré Kruger, are available to play for South Africa and were invited.
Meyer and his assistant coaches have been travelling across South Africa since the start of the Super Rugby season, visiting franchises and sharing information with franchise coaches and senior players.
“Last year we didn't have any time to sit with coaches at the various franchises and share ideas,” said Meyer.
“They work with our top players on a daily basis and know them best, which makes their thoughts and insights very important to the national cause.
“I've been very well received and appreciated the time they gave me and the rest of the coaching team. I've learnt a lot from all of the franchises and hopefully we added some value to them as well.”
Meyer's visit to the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth was postponed on their request and will happen as soon as possible after their return from Australia, with the Eastern Cape franchise's players not considered for the first camp.
Kings players would be considered for the second training camp, to take place at the end of May in Durban.
Players invited to the first Springbok training camp of 2013:
Forwards: Tendai Mtawarira, Jannie du Plessis, Frans Malherbe, Coenie Oosthuizen, Pat Cilliers, Adriaan Strauss, Bismarck du Plessis, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Eben Etzebeth, Flip van der Merwe, Juandré Kruger, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Franco van der Merwe, Siya Kolisi, Marcell Coetzee, Willem Alberts, Arno Botha, Duane Vermeulen, Pierre Spies, Ryan Kankowski.
Backs: Jano Vermaak, Francois Hougaard, Pat Lambie, Morné Steyn, Elton Jantjies, Jean de Villiers, Frans Steyn, Juan de Jongh, Jan Serfontein, Robert Ebersohn, Bryan Habana, Lwazi Mvovo, Raymond Rhule, JP Pietersen, Bjorn Basson, Zane Kirchner. – Sapa