Share

Div has new selection poser

East London - The availability of the Bulls wing Francois Hougaard, despite a lack of match fitness, brings a new dimension to the selection of the Springbok team to tour Australasia for three Tri-nations Tests against the All Blacks and Australia next month.

The second Test against Italy in East London offers some members of the 22-man squad an opportunity to convince coach Peter de Villiers that they should be on the plane.

Hougaard does not have that chance. He has recovered from a broken finger sustained in the Super 14 final, but is the sort of player De Villiers is looking for. The coach wants versatility. As a scrumhalf in the first instance, Hougaard fits the bill if he can prove he is fit.

The only other scrumhalf in the Springbok squad is Ruaan Pienaar - but he has had precious little time there as de Villiers views him as a flyhalf.

Although he has not been afraid to change the run-on side and send a few players home as they are unwanted or injured, De Villiers has shown a consistency in his selections for the four Tests against Wales, France and Italy (two).

Only Odwa Ndungane (injured), Frans Steyn, Meyer Bosman and Joe van Niekerk who were in the squad against Wales for the first of the Tests have seen no further action since. Andries Bekker makes his first appearance on Saturday after a foot injury kept him out of the first three Tests.

After revealing that he and De Villiers didn't get along, Frans Steyn has, according to a release by the SA Rugby Union, apparently patched things up but has not been called upon by De Villiers since the Wales encounter where he was rather disappointing.

De Villiers, who earlier said South Africa had no fullback of international standard except for Steyn, said after the Wales Test that South African players in Europe seemed to suffer because of the standard of rugby/playing fields there. It was intimated that Steyn was dropped from the squad on that count and Zane Kirchner, who wasn't in the initial squad, has now played in all three Tests - the first as a replacement.

Bosman was not called upon again after sitting on the bench against Wales; Van Niekerk was set to have a finger operation and couldn't be considered; and Ndungane was injured in scoring the crucial try against Wales that brought victory.

Of the players in the squad for the Test against France and the first of the Italy Tests the captain in the Italy Test Victor Matfield, Zane Kirchner, Ryan Kankowski, Flip van der Merwe, Alistair Hargreaves, Bjorn Basson, CJ van der Linde and Bandise Maku are not in the match-22 this weekend.

While Matfield is a certainty to return after a week's rest, the others will be fairly nervous until the announcement of the squad. Going on the balance of the side last year, De Villiers will probably take one fullback; three wings; four centres; two flyhalves, two scrumhalves; five loose forwards; four locks; three props and two hookers.

With Matfield a certainty, it leaves places for only three players outside Saturday's match squad and the most contentious selection will be which of BJ Botha or CJ van der Linde will be the third prop; which one of centres Wynand Olivier and Juan de Jongh will be with Jaque Fourie and Jean de Villiers, who is almost certain to go as a centre despite being on the wing this weekend; and whether Hougaard will get a look-in.

If he does, it could mean the end of Butch James' aspirations.

The Springboks had a rest day in East London on Wednesday after two good training sessions on Monday and Tuesday.

Italy's team for the Test will be announced on Thursday.

Springbok Team:

15. Gio Aplon, 14. Jean de Villiers, 13. Jaque Fourie, 12. Juan de Jongh, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Ricky Januarie, 8. Pierre Spies, 7. Francois Louw, 6. Schalk Burger, 5. Andries Bekker, 4. Bakkies Botha, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. John Smit (captain), 1. Gurthrö Steenkamp

Substitutes: 16. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17. BJ Botha, 18. Danie Rossouw, 19. Dewald Potgieter, 20. Ruan Pienaar, 21. Butch James, 22. Wynand Oliver

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1472 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2250 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE