Some lucky players make Bok extra 12 vs Baabaas

Several promising young players who have shot to prominence on the domestic scene this year, have been included in the 30-man Springbok squad for the international clash against the Barbarians on November 5 at the Wembley Stadium in London.

This match is being played outside the ‘international window’ (the few weeks when professional clubs are obliged to release their ‘foreign’ players for international duty) and thus only South African based players could be selected. The squad for the Barbarians match consists of twelve uncapped players, while the rest of the group performed duty in the recent Castle Lager Rugby Championship.

The uncapped players are: Francois Venter (Toyota Free State Cheetahs), Sergeal Petersen (Toyota Free State Cheetahs), Jean-Luc du Preez (Cell C Sharks), Roelof Smit (Vodacom Blue Bulls), RG Snyman (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Lizo Gqoboka (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks), Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Xerox Golden Lions), Uzair Cassiem (Toyota Free State Cheetahs), Jamba Ulengo (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Cheslin Kolbe (DHL Western Province) and Tian Schoeman (Vodacom Blue Bulls).

Of these players, Gqoboka, Du Toit, Snyman, Du Preez, Venter and Petersen featured for the SA A-team against the touring England Saxons in June.

The Boks have been dealt a number of injury blows however, with experienced players Francois Hougaard, Juan de Jongh, Francois Louw and Julian Redelinghuys, all of whom featured during the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, ruled out.

Springbok coach Allister Coetzee also explained that after discussions with Duane Vermeulen, it was decided that his conditioning is not up to international standard since his recent return from injury. He will also return to South Africa in November to be with his wife when the couple’s second child is born.

As a result, flankers Smit and Du Preez, Venter (centre) and Petersen (wing) will remain with the Springbok squad for the remainder of the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour, while the rest of the uncapped players return home after the opening match. Lock Lood de Jager is serving a one match suspension and won’t be considered for the Barbarians match.

The Bok squad was further boosted with the return of Ruan Combrinck, who has recovered from the leg injury which ruled him out for most of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, plus the inclusion of the experienced JP Pietersen and Jannie du Plessis – both of whom were not involved in the most recent campaign.

Meanwhile, Coetzee said he is looking forward to working with the group of young players in the build-up to the Barbarians match.

“It’s great to have such a big group of young, exciting players with us for the Barbarians match. I view this as a great opportunity to start building for the future. The selections of many of these players are part of our road map for 2019,” said Coetzee. “They are identified as part of our succession planning going forward. Their selection in the Springbok squad is reward for their consistently good performances this year, at both Vodacom Super Rugby and Currie Cup level.

“The match against the Barbarians is a great occasion for them to show that they belong at this level. It’s an opportunity to show their class on the biggest stage and to gain experience of international rugby.”

Regarding the challenge of playing in the northern hemisphere, the Springbok coach said, “We know that playing during winter in the northern hemisphere, is always a huge challenge. The conditions are different and it requires an even more physical and tactical battle – and all Test matches played in Europe were almost always decided by small margins in the past.”

“Yes, we have a long injury list, but we prefer to see it as an amazing opportunity for the players selected in the squad. We are looking forward to turn things around on tour against quality opposition,” said Coetzee.

Adriaan Strauss is the captain and leads both squads in his last Springbok tour, before his retirement from international rugby.