SA skipper Austin Smith will be back

The SA squad was only picked from players who played in Durban this past week.

It was made clear by the SA Hockey Association that injured players such as South Africa captain Austin Smith and national players Jonty Robinson and Robin Jones will be considered by the selectors once they are fully recovered from injury.

Among the young talents who confirmed their promise in Durban and were recognised by the senior SA selection panel are North West goalkeeper Chad Durrheim, Western Province defender Daniel Bell, midfielder Marc Fourie of WP Peninsula (Pens), the Western Province Hockey Union’s ‘B’ team, Keenan Horne of Pens, who was voted the most promising player of IPT, and Mondli Dlamini, chosen as B Section player of IPT, who was one of the KZN Mynahs stars in their winning promotion from the second-tier competition to next year’s elite A Section event.

Other new faces in the senior SA set-up include Jason Briggs, Gareth Heyns (both Southern Gauteng), Richard Curtis, Ross Hetem, Leneal Jackson, Damian Kimfley (all KZN Coastal Raiders), Cam Mackay (KZN Coastal Mynahs), Chad Cairncross (Eastern Province) and Richard Pautz (Northern Blues).

SA squad:

Goalkeepers: Rassie Pieterse, Jason Briggs (both Southern Gauteng); Gowan Jones, Richard Curtis (both KZN Coastal Raiders); Jacques le Roux (Western Province), Chad Durrheim (North West).

Defenders: Jethro Eustice, Gareth Heyns, Lance Louw (all Southern Gauteng); Mohamed Mea, Leneal Jackson (both KZN Coastal Raiders); Daniel Bell, Rhett Halkett (both Western Province); Matt Guise-Brown (Northern Blues).

Midfielders: Tim Drummond, Dan Sibbald, Ross Hetem (all KZN Coastal Raiders); Chad Cairncross (Eastern Province); Clint Panther, Taylor Dart (both Southern Gauteng); Wade Paton (Western Province); Marc Fourie (WP Peninsula).

Forwards: Natius Malgraff (Eastern Province); Pierre de Voux, Matt Botha (both Western Province); Taine Paton, Damian Kimfley (both KZN Coastal Raiders); Keenan Horne (WP Peninsula); Mondli Dlamini, Cam Mackay (both KZN Coastal Mynahs); Richard Pautz (Northern Blues); Brandon Panther (Southern Gauteng).

– Sapa