Does the inclusion in a national training group of dynamic young midfielders Jan Serfontein and Robert Ebersohn – players who are equally comfortable at inside and outside centre – suggest Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer could be looking to make a fresh, new start with his backs this season, perhaps without Jean de Villiers, who led the Boks last year?
Serfontein and Ebersohn are among a group of 36 players who’ll gather in Cape Town from Sunday for a three-day planning camp ahead of the Tests against Italy, Scotland and Samoa in June. The second camp will be held in Durban next month. The other new face in the squad is Sharks lock Pieter-Steph du Toit.
All three newcomers have been in stunning form this season. Serfontein, a powerhouse centre who was the star of the SA U-20 team last season, has had limited game time at the Bulls, but every time he’s got his chance he’s shown he is ready to play at Super Rugby and Test level very soon.
Ebersohn has made an even bigger impact this year, now that he’s playing at inside centre after spending three years in the No13 jersey.
And Du Toit, who trained on the odd occasion with the Boks last season, has been a real enforcer for the Sharks … and it’s at lock where the Boks may be a little thin going forward.
With veteran World Cup winner Jaque Fourie still in Japan and not likely to play for the Boks this season and De Villiers not in the greatest of form at the Stormers, and probably unlikely to play at another World Cup, Meyer could well be at something of a cross-roads this season. Does he persist with De Villiers or does he look to a younger group of centres, including Serfontein and Ebersohn. Juan de Jongh is also in the group named yesterday and so, too Frans Steyn, while JP Pietersen has played centre before and Raymond Rhule is in many circles thought of as an outside centre for the future.
Meyer said yesterday he could easily have selected more youngsters who are shining in Super Rugby.
“It’s important to keep continuity and it was very difficult to select only 35 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 Du Toit, Serfontein and Ebersohn, while we also have a high number of players out with injuries, but who will be available for the Tests in June.
“This group is by no means a 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.”
Another player who could slot in at inside centre – De Villiers’ favoured position – is former SA U-20 No10 and currently the Tukkies’ Varsity Cup final winning No12, Handré Pollard. Meyer admitted he had considered the youngster but felt it would be better for him and the SA U-20 team if he played for them in Argentina this season.
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, Habana, Morné Steyn and Juandré Kruger, are available to play for South Africa and were invited.
The surprise omissions at this stage must be Gio Aplon, Willie le Roux and Heinrich Brüssow.
Springbok training group:
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. - The Star