Marco edges out Marcell as Boks assemble powerful squad

Almost half of the powerful 46-man Springbok squad that was announced live on Supersport on Saturday evening are overseas based players but coach Jacques Nienaber has made a strong statement in favour of the strength of the local game with what will be the most talked about selection.

When Marcell Coetzee’s name was not in the extended group read out by SA Rugby president Mark Alexander, you could almost hear an audible gasp coming from fans around the country. That is because the former Sharks player and Ulster stalwart returned to South Africa with a formidable reputation after his exploits overseas during the past few seasons. One of those players who has something special about him, Coetzee was considered by many critics to be a certain selection to the group that will play Georgia, the three match series against the British and Irish Lions as well as for a South Africa A team against the Lions.

That expectation was increased with Coetzee’s massive contribution to the Bulls’ narrow win over the Stormers in their penultimate Rainbow Cup SA match on the eve of the squad announcement. Considering that he hadn’t played in several months because of injury and then had the leadership thrust on him during the game because of an unfortunate injury to regular skipper Duane Vermeulen, Coetzee’s busy and omnipresent performance exceeded expectations.

‘ESKOM’ REWARDED FOR EXCELLENT FORM

However, Nienaber has opted instead for another Bulls stalwart who will soon be leaving for overseas himself in the form of Marco van Staden, who is named Eskom by his teammates for the way his big hits in local competitions in recent seasons have knocked the lights out of opponents.

The omission from the squad for the iconic series continues a long run of bad luck for Coetzee when it comes to big events. He was injured shortly before the squad was finalised for the last World Cup in Japan, and before that he was considered unlucky to be left out by the then coach Heyneke Meyer for the 2015 Rugby World Cup played in England.

At the same time though it is an endorsement for a player who has stood out in the local game since the return to play and, along with Vermeulen and Morne Steyn, has been a big part of the Bulls’ rise from no-hopers to South African champions since South African rugby’s return to play following the coronavirus lockdown last year.

MORNE AND FRANS GET TO RELIVE IT ALL AGAIN

Talking of Steyn, the man who kicked the penalty that effectively clinched the 2009 series for John Smit’s team against the Lions is one of the three flyhalves included in the squad. He is joined by a man with the same surname, the big and influential Cheetahs inside centre Frans Steyn, in getting a second crack at the Lions. Vermeulen was part of the Emerging Bok team that played the Lions 12 year ago too. The other Steyn, Frans, has of course also won two World Cups with the Boks.

PLENTY OF ABRASIVE AND PHYSICAL LOOSIES

While Coetzee’s is a surprising omission, the inclusion of the abrasive former Sharks duo of the Du Preez twins, Jean-Luc and Dan, who both now play for the Sale Sharks in England, plus the anticipated call-up of uncapped Leicester Tigers player Jasper Wiese, means the Boks are well covered when it comes to big, physical, ball carrying loose-forwards.

Neither of the two Du Preez twins has been used by the Boks since Rassie Erasmus’ first year as Bok coach in 2018 but Jean-Luc was a big contributor to the series win over England that started Erasmus’ reign.

Coetzee, who you can say is a loose-forward who has just about everything, was tipped to be the replacement for ball scavenging 2019 Rugby World Cup ‘Bomb Squad’ member Francois Louw, who retired from international rugby immediately after the Boks won the World Cup in the Yokohama final on 2 November 2019.

Van Staden now looks the likely player to be entrusted with the task that Louw fulfilled so well at the World Cup, most notably in securing the Boks a turn-over penalty that helped them to victory in the tense closing stages of the semifinal.

NINE UNCAPPED PLAYERS

The Bulls flanker has been capped for the Boks, as have the two Du Preez twins, but Wiese is joined as an uncapped player by Sharks fullback Aphelele Fassi, Sharks wing Yaw Penxe, the Toyota Cheetahs Blitzbok flyer Rosko Specman, the highly promising young Lions centre Wandesile Simelane, Sharks scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba, Montpellier lock Nico Janse van Rensburg and former Cheetahs hooker Joseph Dweba, who now plays for Joseph Dweba Bordeaux-Bègles.

It has to be remembered that the squad announced on Saturday night also includes players who will just play for the South African A side in the tour game against the Lions. Those players will not get capped, so the uncapped players included in the group aren’t necessarily all going to be Springboks against Georgia and the Lions. The squad will be cut after SA A have played the Lions.

There is a strong contingent of overseas based players in the group, with 22 out of 46 making up nearly half the squad. This is not surprising due to the fact that the return to play happened earlier in Europe than it did in South Africa so players based there have had plenty of hard, competitive rugby to boost their readiness for the once in every 12 year series against the Home Union composite team.

The Japanese contingent, which includes Malcolm Marx, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Jesse Kriel and Willie le Roux are all players who featured in the 2019 World Cup winning squad.

WORLD CUP SQUAD MAKES UP CORE OF GROUP

Apart from the three players who have retired - Louw, Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira and Schalk Brits - all the members of the wider group that won the World Cup in 2019 have been retained with the exception of reserve fullback Warrick Gelant, who is out with a long-term injury. The exciting young Sharks No 15 Fassi and the prodigiously talented and in form Damian de Allende will be the two fullbacks challenging incumbent Le Roux.

Two players from the World Cup group who are currently injured but in the squad for the Lions series are locks RG Snyman (Munster) and Lood de Lager, who completes a strong complement of players who are currently playing for the Sale Sharks. Nienaber will be holding thumbs that both are fit to face the Lions as they are key to any desire he may have to repeat the famous six/two ‘Bomb Squad’ split between forwards and backs that had such a big say in the winning of the World Cup.

RECALL FOR COENIE OOSTHUIZEN

Among the overseas based contingent appears the name Coenie Oosthuizen, a Bok stalwart for many seasons before an untimely injury impacted negatively on his challenge to be part of the group that went to Japan in 2019. The versatile former Sharks and Cheetahs prop has been in excellent recent form for Sale Sharks so his recall isn’t surprising.

RASSIE’S TAKE ON THE SELECTION PROCESS

SA Rugby Director of Rugby, Rassie Erasmus, said the selection of the squad followed a detailed process, including several alignment camps both locally and abroad, as well as visits by the Bok coaching staff to the various local franchise teams.

“We have been keeping a close eye on the players’ performances since professional rugby resumed late last season and we followed that up with a series of alignment camps and franchise visits,” said Erasmus.

“We have put together a very talented group of players, and we believe the vast experience in the group will complement the exciting bunch of youngsters. Several players have been plying their trade abroad, and that has enabled them to rack up quality game time in top class competitions against world class opposition, many of whom were included in the Lions squad, while the locally-based players have also been able to build up quality game time over a number of competitions.”

SURREAL EXPERIENCE FOR NIENABER AFTER 20 MONTHS

Nienaber, who will make his first appearance as Springbok head coach when the team take the field, echoed Erasmus’ sentiments about the quality of the squad, and he looked forward to a memorable start to the international season.

“It is a surreal feeling to name a Springbok squad after such a long absence from international rugby, and the fact that these players will have a chance to measure themselves in such a special tour makes it even more remarkable,” said Nienaber.

“Players such as Frans and Morné have been here before and they can attest to the huge privilege it is to be part of a British & Irish Lions tour, so I am very excited for this squad.

The squad feature a bunch of Rugby World Cup-winners who know what it takes to perform and be successful at the highest level, as well as a handful of very talented young players who all proved that they deserve an opportunity at this level.”

The team will kick off their preparations on Monday with a three-week conditioning camp in Bloemfontein. The locally-based players will assemble at their base on Sunday, with the overseas-based players joining in clusters according to their club commitments.

National squad for Georgia tests, British and Irish Lions Series and SA tour game:

Outside Backs

Aphelele Fassi (Cell C Sharks, uncapped), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse, 14 caps, 40 pts), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz, 61 caps, 60 pts), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks, 14 caps, 70 pts), Sbu Nkosi (Cell C Sharks, 11 caps, 40 pts), Yaw Penxe (Cell C Sharks, uncapped), Rosko Specman (Toyota Cheetahs, uncapped), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers, 6 caps, 5 pts)

Midfielders

Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks, 15 caps, 15 pts), Damian de Allende (Munster, 47 caps, 30 pts), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles, 46 caps, 60 pts), Wandisile Simelane (Emirates Lions, uncapped), Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs, 67 caps, 141 pts)

Flyhalves

Elton Jantjies (Pau, 37 caps, 281 pts), Handré Pollard (Montpellier, 48 caps 457 pts), Morné Steyn (Vodacom Bulls, 66 caps, 736 pts)

Scrumhalves

Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks, 30 caps, 20 pts), Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers, 10 caps, 20 pts), Sanele Nohamba (Cell C Sharks, uncapped), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier, 14 caps, 30 pts)

Utility forwards

Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks, 13 caps, 10 points)

Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse, 2 caps, 0 points)

Loose forwards

Dan du Preez (Sale Sharks, 4 caps, 0 pts), Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers, 55 caps, 25 pts), Siya Kolisi (Cell C Sharks, 50 caps, 30 pts), Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo, 6 caps, 0 pts), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls, 3 caps, 0 pts), Duane Vermeulen (Vodacom Bulls, 54 caps, 15 pts), Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)

Locks

Lood de Jager (Sale Sharks, 45 caps, 25 its), Eben Etzebeth (Toulon, 85 caps, 15 pts), Nico Janse van Rensburg (Montpellier, uncapped), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat, 39 caps, 5 pts), Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers, 3 caps, 0 pts), RG Snyman (Munster, 23 caps, 5 pts)

Props

Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks, 12 caps, 0 pts), Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers, 47 caps, 5 pts), Vincent Koch (Saracens, 21 caps, 0 pts), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers, 38 caps, 5 pts), Ox Nché (Cell C Sharks, 1 cap, 0 pts), Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls, 42 caps, 5 pts), Coenie Oosthuizen (Sale Sharks, 30 caps, 20 pts)

Hookers

Joseph Dweba (Bordeaux-Bègles, uncapped) Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears, 33 caps, 25 pts) Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers, 36 caps, 35 pts) Scarra Ntubeni (DHL Stormers, 1 cap, 0 pts)