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Bok Tri-Nations tour squad named

Brad Morgan

25 June 2008

The Springboks open their 2008 Tri-Nations campaign with three tough away games over consecutive weekends in July. Coach Peter de Villiers has named a 28-man touring squad that includes a few surprises.

The schedule is as tough as it could be in a competition that features South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia, the winners of five of the six World Cup titles.

By opening with three away fixtures, including the first two in New Zealand, the chances of matters not going according to plan are greater than they would be if SA opened at home. Confidence is, however, high in the Springbok camp.

Winning in New Zealand

Former Bok coach Nick Mallett believes South Africa has the ability to win in New Zealand for the first time since he led them to a 13-3 victory in 1998. The key, he reckons, is for the selectors to choose the correct combinations.

Stormers' coach Rassie Erasmus feels the All Blacks are ripe for the taking. He points out that the Kiwis lost a good number of players to northern hemisphere clubs after the World Cup and they're also struggling with a number of injuries.

The most crucial of these is an ankle injury that captain Richie McCaw sustained in the second test against England; it will keep him out of action for at least six weeks. In the same match against England, lock Ali Williams, the All Blacks' best jumper in a shaky lineout, was also injured and his place against South Africa is questionable.

Inspirational captain

While the All Blacks will be without their skipper, John Smit, the Springboks' inspirational captain, will play in the final of the French Top 14 at the weekend, for Clermont against Toulouse, and then head to Australasia.

The value of his leadership had been proved over and over again and few would argue that he was the best captain at the Rugby World Cup in France.

In a big surprise, another front row forward, tighthead prop BJ Botha, was left out of the touring squad. He was South Africa's first choice in the number-three jersey before being injured at the World Cup, and in his only outing this season in the second test against Wales, the South African scrum looked the most solid it has in the three tests the Springboks have played so far.

Brian Mujati, who had some problems when he played against Wales in the first test, was preferred to Botha, while 50-test veteran CJ van der Linde, who is able to play on either side of the scrum, was also selected.

Pietersen returns

In another shock, World Cup winning wing JP Pietersen, who was omitted from the Springboks' opening three tests, was included in the touring party. It has been a tough year for the Sharks' winger; he has yet to score a try this season after finishing 2007 as the top try scorer in the Super 14.

World Cup winning Springbok Danie Rossouw, who was selected as a substitute for the first test against Wales only, has been left out of the 28-man squad, while Gcobani Bobo was also omitted. He did duty against Italy, but his selection had been a little surprising.

Hooker Schalk Brits, who impressed when he came on against Italy, and who also enjoyed a fine Super 14 season, was left out. His problem is that the men ahead of him are John Smit and Bismarck du Plessis, undoubtedly two of the best hookers in the game.

Tonderai Chavanga played in both tests against Wales, but his play lacked conviction. His place has instead gone to Odwa Ndungane, who turned out against Italy, and whose defensive work is far more convincing.

Kankowski passed fit

Eighthman Ryan Kankowski, after a sensational Super 14 season, was given his first start of the season against Italy, but lasted just less than a half before he was carted off the field after receiving a hard crack to his chin from the head of Carlo Dal Fava. He was knocked out, but has been passed fit to tour after undergoing medical tests.

For six of the squad, it will be their first visit to Australia with the Boks. They include Kankowski, Ndungane, Andries Bekker, Tendai "The Beast" Mtawarira, Mujati, and Luke Watson.

Looking at the backs, it is interesting to see that the squad includes Butch James, Francois Steyn, and Peter Grant. James is clearly the number one flyhalf, but the position behind him appears to be up for grabs.

Steyn vs Grant

Steyn recently stated that he would prefer to be considered as a flyhalf before any other position and he was given the start against Italy. However, when Grant came on late in the game, he gave the South African backline an extra bit of oomph.

It could be that Steyn is contemplated as an outside centre; Jean de Villiers has sewn up the inside centre berth with strong showings throughout the Super 14 and in the Springboks' first three tests.

If Steyn is considered for the number 13 jersey, he will likely be up against his Sharks' teammate, Adrian Jacobs for the position. Jacobs impressed in his two tests against Wales, but he still has his critics regarding his defensive work.

Fullback selection

Facing up to the toughest challenge of all – playing New Zealand in New Zealand, where the All Blacks' overall home record is 170 wins, only 34 losses and six draws – one wonders whether the Springbok selectors will stick with Conrad Jantjes at fullback.

Make no mistake, he made a very favourable impression with his performances in South Africa's test wins over Wales and Italy. However, facing those teams in South Africa, as a challenge, is not in the same league as tackling the All Blacks in New Zealand.

Jantjes' possible replacement is Percy Montgomery, the best goal kicker in the Springbok squad, and the most capped Bok of all time. With the ultimate test in front of the World Cup winners, which way will the selectors go?

Rossouw's omission

Among the forwards, the omission of Danie Rossouw is easy to explain. The industrious Andries Bekker is preferred at lock. The tallest man in the squad, he is a good lineout winner and a hard worker around the field.

Three players are preferred to Rossouw at eightman, Kankowski, who was the pick of all the number eights in the Super 14; Pierre Spies, who was the original first choice for the World Cup and who returned to action midway through the Super 14; and 40-test veteran Joe van Niekerk, who has enjoyed a return to form after moving back to the Lions from the Stormers.

Luke Watson, despite three strong outings against the Welsh and Italians, will have a tough job hanging onto his place. Schalk Burger, after being sidelined since April with a knee injury, came on as a substitute against Italy, and once he is back to full fitness there is no way one of the world's best players can be left out of the starting line-up.

Quite a number of pundits have backed up Nick Mallett and Rassie Erasmus, believing that the Springboks have their best opportunity in some time to beat the All Blacks at home. That may be so, but saying it and doing it are worlds apart. A massive test of the World Cup winners' credentials awaits, and the challenge of Australia should not be forgotten, too.

SPRINGBOK SQUAD

• Andries Bekker
• Bakkies Botha
• Schalk Burger
• Bolla Conradie
• Jean de Villiers
• Bismarck du Plessis
• Peter Grant
• Bryan Habana
• Butch James
• Adrian Jacobs
• Conrad Jantjes
• Ricky Januarie
• Ryan Kankowski
• Percy Montgomery
• Tendai Mtawarira
• Brian Mujati
• Victor Matfield
• Odwa Ndungane
• Ruan Pienaar
• JP Pietersen
• Pierre Spies
• Juan Smith
• John Smit (capt)
• Gurthrö Steenkamp
• Francois Steyn
• CJ van der Linde
• Joe van Niekerk
• Luke Watson