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Cape Town - As the Springboks prepare to face France without Fourie du Preez, Sport24 takes a look at No 9's you may have forgotten about that are still playing.
With Du Preez ruled out of the Springboks' Test in Paris on Saturday (kick-off at 22:00 SA time), coach Heyneke Meyer called up Jano Vermaak into the squad as cover. Ruan Pienaar is expected to start, while Louis Schreuder is also part of the squad.
Rory Kockott:
The 27-year-old former Sharks and Lions scrumhalf plays for Castres and was key to his team winning the Top 14 last season, finishing as the top-scorer in the competition with 376 points - and was man of the match in the final, scoring 13 of Castres' points and dotting down his team's only try of the match in their 19-14 win over Toulon. Kockott, was also named Top 14 Players' Player of the Year for the 2012/13 season. He has not been capped for the Springboks and will become eligible to play for France in 2014.
Michael Claassens:
The 31-year-old former Cheetahs player earned eight Springbok caps to his name before going overseas to make his name as one of the best scrumhalves in the English league playing for Bath. He is currently playing for Toulon in the French Top 14.
Francois Hougaard:
The 25-year-old Bulls scrumhalf, who has 27 Springbok cap to his name, has struggled with form, his utility tag and in 2013 suffered from an ankle injury and then a cartilage tear in his right knee, which has ruled him out for most of the season.
Piet van Zyl:
The 24-year-old former Cheetahs and current Bull has two Springbok caps and has been part of the Springbok setup but was not included by Heyneke Meyer in his 32-man squad.
Neil de Kock:
The 34-year-old former WP scrumhalf, who has 10 Springbok caps to his name, left South Africa in 2006 to play in England. He currently plays for Saracens.
Heini Adams:
The 33-year-old former Bulls scrumhalf left SA in 2010 to play in France. He currently plays for Bordeax Begles and recently scored two tries for the French Barbarians team.
Ricky Januarie:
The 31-year-old former Lions and WP scrumhalf, who has 47 Springbok caps to his name, left SA in 2011 to play in France. He currently plays for Lyon OU, a French rugby union team that competes in the Pro D2, the second level of the country's professional league system. They were relegated from the Top 14 at the end of the 2011–12 season.
Bolla Conradie:
The 35-year-old former Stormers and Boland Cavaliers scrumhalf, who has 18 Springbok caps to his name, came back to Western Province in 2013 where he played in the Vodacom Cup.
Rory Kockott is still going strong in France playing for Castres. (Gallo Images)
With Du Preez ruled out of the Springboks' Test in Paris on Saturday (kick-off at 22:00 SA time), coach Heyneke Meyer called up Jano Vermaak into the squad as cover. Ruan Pienaar is expected to start, while Louis Schreuder is also part of the squad.
Rory Kockott:
The 27-year-old former Sharks and Lions scrumhalf plays for Castres and was key to his team winning the Top 14 last season, finishing as the top-scorer in the competition with 376 points - and was man of the match in the final, scoring 13 of Castres' points and dotting down his team's only try of the match in their 19-14 win over Toulon. Kockott, was also named Top 14 Players' Player of the Year for the 2012/13 season. He has not been capped for the Springboks and will become eligible to play for France in 2014.
Michael Claassens:
The 31-year-old former Cheetahs player earned eight Springbok caps to his name before going overseas to make his name as one of the best scrumhalves in the English league playing for Bath. He is currently playing for Toulon in the French Top 14.
Francois Hougaard:
The 25-year-old Bulls scrumhalf, who has 27 Springbok cap to his name, has struggled with form, his utility tag and in 2013 suffered from an ankle injury and then a cartilage tear in his right knee, which has ruled him out for most of the season.
Piet van Zyl:
The 24-year-old former Cheetahs and current Bull has two Springbok caps and has been part of the Springbok setup but was not included by Heyneke Meyer in his 32-man squad.
Neil de Kock:
The 34-year-old former WP scrumhalf, who has 10 Springbok caps to his name, left South Africa in 2006 to play in England. He currently plays for Saracens.
Heini Adams:
The 33-year-old former Bulls scrumhalf left SA in 2010 to play in France. He currently plays for Bordeax Begles and recently scored two tries for the French Barbarians team.
Ricky Januarie:
The 31-year-old former Lions and WP scrumhalf, who has 47 Springbok caps to his name, left SA in 2011 to play in France. He currently plays for Lyon OU, a French rugby union team that competes in the Pro D2, the second level of the country's professional league system. They were relegated from the Top 14 at the end of the 2011–12 season.
Bolla Conradie:
The 35-year-old former Stormers and Boland Cavaliers scrumhalf, who has 18 Springbok caps to his name, came back to Western Province in 2013 where he played in the Vodacom Cup.
Rory Kockott is still going strong in France playing for Castres. (Gallo Images)
