Coetzee ushers in new Springbok era
Allister Coetzee has named a new-look Springbok squad, including nine uncapped players, for the Castle Lager Incoming Series against Ireland, featuring three Tests in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth.
The uncapped players who have forced their way into the Springbok squad are Garth April (flyhalf), Ruan Combrinck (wing), Faf de Klerk (scrumhalf), Nic Groom (scrumhalf), Steven Kitshoff (prop), Jaco Kriel (flank), Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (flank) and Scarra Ntubeni (hooker).
Coetzee picked 17 forwards and 14 backs to report for duty on Sunday afternoon for the start of a two week-long preparation camp in Stellenbosch and Cape Town. The squad will gather in Stellenbosch for the first week, before they break for two days and then reassemble on Sunday 5 June in Cape Town.
Coetzee said he was excited and looking forward to start working with his squad.
“The announcement of the squad, while hugely challenging, is a highlight of my career and a result of a lot of hard work and a huge amount of planning since my appointment,” said Coetzee.
“The selection of this squad was based on rewarding form and exposing young and upcoming local players to the Springboks, which is why priority was given to locally based players. We have many experienced players still available for selection, but we just felt that the time was right to look at the next generation.
“Our depth was obviously tested in certain positions, but this also created opportunities for new players, who have found their feet at Vodacom Super Rugby level, and to make the step up to the Springboks.
“I was appointed to win Test matches and I believe we have picked the best possible, available squad to do that. During my recent visits to the various franchises, I witnessed an unbelievable desire and passion from our players to play for South Africa, which was really heartening.
“We will now start with our preparations in earnest in Stellenbosch so that we can be ready for Ireland in Cape Town in two weeks’ time.”
Coetzee did not name a team captain and said he wanted to work with the squad before making a decision in the week of the first Test.
“We have a number of captaincy candidates to consider and I will announce the name of the captain when we name the team to face Ireland in Cape Town in a few days’ time,” said the Bok coach.
Several players were not available for selection for the Springbok or SA ‘A’ squads because of injuries or Springbok Sevens commitments. They are JC Janse van Rensburg, Sti Sithole, Marcell Coetzee, CJ Velleman, Chris Cloete, Schalk Burger, Thembelani Bholi, Cobus Reinach, Jano Vermaak, Elgar Watts, Robert du Preez, Kurt Coleman, Handré Pollard, Harold Vorster, Cornal Hendricks, Andries Coetzee, Dillyn Leyds, Jaco van der Walt (all injuries or illness), as well as Francois Hougaard, Bryan Habana, Juan de Jongh, Seabelo Senatla, Cheslin Kolbe, Warrick Gelant and Siviwe Soyizwapi (all Springbok Sevens).
Furthermore, experienced scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar informed Coetzee that he is not available for selection for the June Tests.
“We were considering all the players on this list carefully but they are unfortunately not available. We’ve also had good discussions with Springbok Sevens coach Neil Powell and I support them fully in their preparations for the Olympic Games in August even though some of those players were real contenders for inclusion in the Springbok squad,” said Coetzee.
Coetzee added that that four players not included in the Springboks’ match-23 for the first two Tests, will be released to the SA ‘A’ squad for their matches against the England Saxons.
The three Tests between the Springboks and Ireland will take place on 11 June at DHL Newlands in Cape Town, on 18 June at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg and on 25 June at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
The Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Incoming Series (alphabetical order):
Name
Position
Franchise/Club
Test Caps
1
Garth April
Flyhalf
Cell C Sharks
0
2
Ruan Combrinck
Wing
Emirates Lions
0
3
Damian de Allende
Centre
DHL Stormers
13
4
Lood de Jager
Lock
Toyota Cheetahs
19
5
Faf de Klerk
Scrumhalf
Emirates Lions
0
6
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Lock
DHL Stormers
8
7
Eben Etzebeth
Lock
DHL Stormers
44
8
Nic Groom
Scrumhalf
DHL Stormers
0
9
Elton Jantjies
Flyhalf
Emirates Lions
2
10
Steven Kitshoff
Prop
Bordeaux (France)
0
11
Siya Kolisi
Flank
DHL Stormers
13
12
Jaco Kriel
Flank
Emirates Lions
0
13
Jesse Kriel
Centre
Vodacom Bulls
11
14
Patrick Lambie
Flyhalf
Cell C Sharks
50
15
Willie le Roux
Fullback
Cell C Sharks
34
16
Francois Louw
Flank
Bath (England)
43
17
Frans Malherbe
Prop
DHL Stormers
12
18
Lionel Mapoe
Centre
Emirates Lions
1
19
Bongi Mbonambi
Hooker
DHL Stormers
0
20
Tendai Mtawarira
Prop
Cell C Sharks
75
21
Lwazi Mvovo
Wing
Cell C Sharks
15
22
Sikhumbuzo Notshe
Flank
DHL Stormers
0
23
Scarra Ntubeni
Hooker
DHL Stormers
0
24
Trevor Nyakane
Prop
Vodacom Bulls
23
25
Rudy Paige
Scrumhalf
Vodacom Bulls
2
26
JP Pietersen
Wing
Cell C Sharks
66
27
Julian Redelinghuys
Prop
Emirates Lions
2
28
Jan Serfontein
Centre
Vodacom Bulls
26
29
Adriaan Strauss
Hooker
Vodacom Bulls
54
30
Duane Vermeulen
No 8
Toulon (France)
35
31
Warren Whiteley
No 8
Emirates Lions
3