SPRINGBOK coach Heyneke Meyer will name an expanded 36-man squad tomorrow for the June Tests against Wales and Scotland and the match against a World XV.
Meyer, who held a camp for 36 locally based players in Durban this week, will add a handful of European-based players to the final group while culling some of the locals.
Among the inclusions is Saracens hooker Schalk Brits, who is set for a return to the group following a three-week suspension for Adriaan Strauss and injuries to Chiliboy Ralepelle, Tiaan Liebenberg and Scarra Ntubeni.
Brits, who was always likely to be the third hooker in the group, will now be elevated to second choice behind Bismarck du Plessis with the Bulls’ Callie Visagie taking over third spot.
Stormers utility back Damian de Allende, Sharks centre-wing S’bura Sithole, Bulls prop Marcel van der Merwe and Sharks lock Stephan Lewies are likely to be the other uncapped players in the final squad.
Others set to come in from Europe are Toulon lock Bakkies Botha, Ulster scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar, Bath flank Francois Louw, Toulon flank Juan Smith, Stade Francais flyhalf Morné Steyn, Toulon wing Bryan Habana and Leinster fullback Zane Kirchner.
Of the 36 that were in Durban, lock Lood de Jager could make way for Botha, with Heinrich Brüssow dropping out for Louw, Jacques du Plessis for Juan Smith, Marnitz Boshoff relegated for Morné Steyn and Cornal Hendricks likely to lose out to Kirchner.
With Marcell Coetzee fit again and Louw the incumbent flank, Meyer is unlikely to give himself the luxury of three openside options by also including Brüssow in the final group.
Injuries will prevent captain Jean de Villiers, centre Jaque Fourie and lock Eben Etzebeth, who were all originally included in the training squad, from making the final cut.
Etzebeth could still be fit to play by the end of June but after an assessment by Bok doctor Craig Roberts, it’s unlikely that he will be pushed into service in the first part of the international season.
A foot injury has taken longer than anticipated to heal and in the long-term Etzebeth’s value to the Boks is far greater than the need to rush him into action against Wales and Scotland.
That means the Sharks’ Lewies, who is a promising lock, could remain in the group to learn from Victor Matfield and Flip van der Merwe.
Schalk Burger should be in the mix if his current neck injury responds well to treatment. Burger can cover at blindside flank and eighthman.
There is a possibility that Smith, after a sensational final few weeks at Toulon, would return to the Springboks for the first time since 2010 as looseforward cover.
He admitted this week that he has been in e-mail contact with Meyer but had received no guarantees.
“I’m pushing for a place in the 2015 World Cup and Heyneke has said he is looking at me,” Smith said this week.
Possible squad: Backs: Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh, Fourie du Preez, JJ Engelbrecht, Johan Goosen, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Zane Kirchner, Willie le Roux, Lwazi Mvovo, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Jan Serfontein, S’bura Sithole, Frans Steyn, Morné Steyn.
Forwards: Willem Alberts, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Brits, Schalk Burger, Marcell Coetzee, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Siya Kolisi, Stephan Lewies, Francois Louw, Victor Matfield, Frans Malherbe, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Coenie Oosthuizen, Juan Smith, Flip van der Merwe, Marcel van der Merwe, Duane Vermeulen, Callie Visagie.
Brits back in Bok fold
Meyer, who held a camp for 36 locally based players in Durban this week, will add a handful of European-based players to the final group while culling some of the locals.
Among the inclusions is Saracens hooker Schalk Brits, who is set for a return to the group following a three-week suspension for Adriaan Strauss and injuries to Chiliboy Ralepelle, Tiaan Liebenberg and Scarra Ntubeni.
Brits, who was always likely to be the third hooker in the group, will now be elevated to second choice behind Bismarck du Plessis with the Bulls’ Callie Visagie taking over third spot.
Stormers utility back Damian de Allende, Sharks centre-wing S’bura Sithole, Bulls prop Marcel van der Merwe and Sharks lock Stephan Lewies are likely to be the other uncapped players in the final squad.
Others set to come in from Europe are Toulon lock Bakkies Botha, Ulster scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar, Bath flank Francois Louw, Toulon flank Juan Smith, Stade Francais flyhalf Morné Steyn, Toulon wing Bryan Habana and Leinster fullback Zane Kirchner.
Of the 36 that were in Durban, lock Lood de Jager could make way for Botha, with Heinrich Brüssow dropping out for Louw, Jacques du Plessis for Juan Smith, Marnitz Boshoff relegated for Morné Steyn and Cornal Hendricks likely to lose out to Kirchner.
With Marcell Coetzee fit again and Louw the incumbent flank, Meyer is unlikely to give himself the luxury of three openside options by also including Brüssow in the final group.
Injuries will prevent captain Jean de Villiers, centre Jaque Fourie and lock Eben Etzebeth, who were all originally included in the training squad, from making the final cut.
Etzebeth could still be fit to play by the end of June but after an assessment by Bok doctor Craig Roberts, it’s unlikely that he will be pushed into service in the first part of the international season.
A foot injury has taken longer than anticipated to heal and in the long-term Etzebeth’s value to the Boks is far greater than the need to rush him into action against Wales and Scotland.
That means the Sharks’ Lewies, who is a promising lock, could remain in the group to learn from Victor Matfield and Flip van der Merwe.
Schalk Burger should be in the mix if his current neck injury responds well to treatment. Burger can cover at blindside flank and eighthman.
There is a possibility that Smith, after a sensational final few weeks at Toulon, would return to the Springboks for the first time since 2010 as looseforward cover.
He admitted this week that he has been in e-mail contact with Meyer but had received no guarantees.
“I’m pushing for a place in the 2015 World Cup and Heyneke has said he is looking at me,” Smith said this week.
Possible squad: Backs: Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh, Fourie du Preez, JJ Engelbrecht, Johan Goosen, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Zane Kirchner, Willie le Roux, Lwazi Mvovo, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Jan Serfontein, S’bura Sithole, Frans Steyn, Morné Steyn.
Forwards: Willem Alberts, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Brits, Schalk Burger, Marcell Coetzee, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Siya Kolisi, Stephan Lewies, Francois Louw, Victor Matfield, Frans Malherbe, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Coenie Oosthuizen, Juan Smith, Flip van der Merwe, Marcel van der Merwe, Duane Vermeulen, Callie Visagie.
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