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Div leaves out Lambie

Johannesburg - Patrick Lambie was the shock omission for the Springboks home leg of the Tri-Nations after Peter de Villiers announced his 24-man squad.

The Sharks player was released on Monday for Currie Cup duty.

The  24-man squad announced features several Springboks returning from rehabilitation.

The omission of Patrick Lambie will come as a shock to some and will have more than a few critics scratching their heads after the flyhalf did very little wrong playing in the away leg of the Tri-Nations.

The Springbok greenhorn earned his starting debut against New Zealand in the Springboks 40-7 drubbing in Wellington and was one of a few players to emerge with any credit from the heavy defeat. A week before against the Wallabies the backline had appeared to spark after he was brought on as a late replacement.

His absence from the squad could be interpreted as an ominous sign ahead of the World Cup for the versatile young back, who is able to cover several positions in the backline, as the Bok management seem determined on sticking to their tried-and-tested players.

The Springbok management appear to have opted for players to fit into an established game plan.

Schalk Burger (hand), Juan Smith (Achilles) and Willem Alberts (shoulder) were also not included due to their injuries, while Heinrich Brussouw will be assessed after playing for the Cheetahs in the Currie Cup on Saturday. Other players overlooked due to injury were Duane Vermeulen (knee), Andries Bekker (ankle) and Johan Muller (hamstring).

Other players not considered that featured in the Springboks' away leg of the Tri-Nations:

Adrian Jacobs - Sharks
Elton Jantjies - Lions
Charl McLeod - Sharks
Lwazi Mvovo - Sharks
Odwa Ndungane - Sharks
Wynand Olivier - Blue Bulls
Dean Greyling - Blue Bulls
Alistair Hargreaves - Sharks
Ryan Kankowski - Sharks
Werner Kruger - Blue Bulls
Ashley Johnson - Free State Cheetahs
Coenie Oosthuizen - Free State Cheetahs
Chiliboy Ralepelle - Blue Bulls
Deon Stegmann - Blue Bulls
Adriaan Strauss - Free State Cheetahs
Flip van der Merwe - Blue Bulls

The Springboks will assemble on Sunday.

Springbok squad:

BACKS - Province/Club - Caps

Gio Aplon - DHL Western Province - 14
Frans Steyn - Racing Metro, France - 42
JP Pietersen - The Sharks - 36
Bryan Habana - DHL Western Province - 68
Jaque Fourie - DHL Western Province - 62
Juan de Jongh - DHL Western Province - 8
Jean de Villiers - DHL Western Province - 67
Morne Steyn - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 27
Butch James - MTN Golden Lions - 40
Ruan Pienaar - Ulster, N Ireland - 49
Fourie du Preez - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 55
Francois Hougaard - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 8

FORWARDS

Pierre Spies - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 40
Jean Deysel - The Sharks - 3
Danie Rossouw - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 56
Bakkies Botha - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 72
Victor Matfield - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 105
Gerhard Mostert - Stade Francais, France - 1
John Smit (captain) - The Sharks - 104
Bismarck du Plessis - The Sharks - 36
Tendai Mtawarira - The Sharks - 26
Jannie du Plessis - The Sharks - 24
Gurthrö Steenkamp - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 31
CJ van der Linde - MTN Golden Lions - 71

 
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