Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer

Cape Town – Sharks wunderkind Pat Lambie is the new addition to the Springbok training camp most favoured by Sport24 readers.

Several rookies, who have set the Absa Currie Cup campaign alight, were recently named among an extended Bok training party ahead of the end-of-year tour of Britain and Ireland.

And it is Lambie, the fresh-faced utility back who has probably made his best impression in the flyhalf spot for finalists the Sharks, who has earned greatest approval in a poll this week.

We asked the question: “Of the ‘new’ names in the Bok training squad, which of the following excites you the most?” The names listed were Lambie, Bjorn Basson, Elton Jantjies, Lwazi Mvovo, Dean Greyling, Werner Kruger, Coenie Oosthuizen, Willem Alberts and Duane Vermeulen.

Some 6 000 votes had been posted as this was penned, with Lambie top of the pops with 25% of them.

Not far behind him, though, came the most fancied forward: Western Province’s physical and tireless No 8 Vermeulen, with 22%.

That seemed appropriate considering that he was recently chosen as Best Forward and Players’ Player of the Year at the annual WPRFU awards evening.

Getting “bronze’ in our poll was slippery Griquas wing Basson (18%), who broke some try-scoring records this year and is now Blue Bulls-bound.

Next up came the Lions’ equivalent to Lambie as a find in the No 10 jersey this year, Jantjies, with 11%.

Sharks wing Mvovo and imposing team-mate Willem Alberts, the versatile loose forward, tied with 9% and there were trickles of support for young props Oosthuizen of the Cheetahs (3%) and the Bulls pair of Greyling and Kruger (1% each).

Is this just because poor old props tend not to be the poster-boys of rugby, or because our readers are not convinced South Africa’s front-row resources for the future inspire huge confidence yet?

Perhaps we will find out down the line …