Ten overseas-based players will be members of the 30-man squad that will do duty for the Springboks in the Rugby Championship, which kicks off with the Boks playing against Argentina at the FNB Stadium in Joburg on August 17.
Among the men who ply their trade overseas is veteran scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, who returns to the Bok setup for the first time since the 2011 World Cup. He spent the past two years at Suntory Sungoliath in Japan and will feature for the Boks in the three Tests to be played in South Africa. For the matches in Argentina, Australia and New Zealand Du Preez will be replaced in the squad by Piet van Zyl.
The other players who play in Europe, or are headed that way, are Zane Kirchner, Bryan Habana, Morné Steyn, Jano Vermaak, Ruan Pienaar, Francois Louw, Juandré Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle and Gurthro Steenkamp.
Steenkamp is also back in the Bok fold after missing the June Tests, but did feature for Heyneke Meyer’s team on the November tour of Ireland, England and Scotland.
The majority of the squad played in June, with only Du Preez, Steenkamp and a fit-again Duane Vermeulen coming into the side.
“We’re thankful to everyone at Saru and Suntory who made it possible to select Fourie,” said Meyer, who has been chasing Du Preez’s services for some time.
“Fourie has been out of international rugby for a while and it makes sense to involve him as soon as possible. Piet was part of the squad in June so we know what he can do and he will slot in without any problems when necessary.”
With Pierre Spies injured and not able to play rugby again until next year, Meyer breathed a sigh of relief that first first choice No 8 Vermeulen is fit again.
“It’s great to have Duane back after he played such an important role for us at the end of last season,” said Meyer. “It will also be good to see Gurthrö back in the mix. Along with Fourie, they boast 102 Tests worth of experience between the two of them, have been part of successful teams before and will be able to share a lot of knowledge with the younger players around them.
“We’ve managed to keep a lot of continuity between this squad of 30 players and the squad that did duty during the Castle Lager Incoming Series. As I’ve said before, it’s vitally important for the younger players in the set-up to get more experience and increase their Test caps, but this will be a tough Championship and we will have to be at our very best.
“Argentina showed last year what they can do and while we are mindful of the threat they pose, our focus will be on building on the good things we achieved in June and improving in areas where we were not satisfied.”
The Springboks open their Rugby Championship campaign against Argentina at the FNB Stadium in Soweto as part of the Nelson Mandela Sport & Culture Day celebrations on August 17. The following day they fly to South America where they will face Los Pumas in Mendoza on August 24.
The two Australasian Tests of the competition take place on September 7 in Brisbane (against Australia) and on September 14 in Auckland (against New Zealand). The final two home Tests are scheduled for September 28 in Cape Town (against Australia) and October 5 in Joburg (against New Zealand).
Only locally-based players and Ruan Pienaar, who is on extended leave in South Africa and was granted permission to take part in the camp by his province in Ireland, will take part in the team’s preparations this week in Joburg.
The full squad will get together for training from August 12.
Injured players who had been members of the squad in the past two seasons, but were not considered, were Frans Malherbe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Arno Botha, Pierre Spies, Francois Hougaard, Johan Goosen, Jaco Taute and Frans Steyn.
Springbok Squad: Backs: Zane Kirchner, Willie le Roux, Bryan Habana, Bjorn Basson, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers (capt), JJ Engelbrecht, Jan Serfontein, Pat Lambie, Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Jano Vermaak, Ruan Pienaar.
Forwards: Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Siya Kolisi, Francois Louw, Franco van der Merwe, Flip van der Merwe, Eben Etzebeth, Juandre Kruger, Jannie du Plessis, Coenie Oosthuizen, Beast Mtawarira, Gurthro Steenkamp, Trevor Nyakane, Bismarck du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Chiliboy Ralepelle. - Sunday Independent