WING Cornal Hendricks was the only newcomer named in a Springbok team yesterday to face a World XV at Newlands on Saturday, but he will have to wait a little longer for national colours.
An anomaly in the system means that only players who feature in a Test match, or in a match on an overseas tour, earn Springbok numbers and colours.
So until such time Hendricks will only be known as a Springbok representative in the same way as scrumhalf Louis Schreuder and hooker Scarra Ntubeni are listed after being non-playing tourists to Europe last year.
But none of that mattered to Hendricks, the 2013 SA Sevens Player of the Year, who was overjoyed to be picked in a team alongside some of his heroes such as Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen.
“It’s always been my dream to play for the Springboks one day and ever since my switch from Sevens it’s been a goal of mine,” said Hendricks.
“But the easy part was being picked. The hard part is going to be keeping my place in the team. I’m thankful for the chance.
“The switch from Sevens has been a learning curve but I believe I’ve improved my individual skills – especially under the high ball.”
Hendricks ousted Pietersen from the right wing with the latter chosen at outside centre for this clash in a potential sign of the future.
Pietersen is also not available for the Rugby Championship in August due to his Japanese club commitments and that forced coach Heyneke Meyer to relook at the wing situation.
“Because of JP’s situation and unavailability later this year I decided I want to have a close look at Cornal at wing and see what he can do at a higher level,” said Meyer.
“I’ve got a great feeling about Cornal at this level because he has been superb in Super Rugby and also shown some unique skills in training, which has us pretty excited about what he is capable of doing.”
Centre is not an unfamiliar position for Pietersen, who has worn the number 13 jersey for the Sharks and the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan but never at international level.
Meyer suggested that Pietersen’s move to centre could become a permanent switch in the coming months.
“JP has proven himself at wing but he also has experience at outside centre,” said Meyer.
“He is big and strong and if you look around the world guys like Stirling Mortlock and Tana Umaga spent time at wing before moving to outside centre.
“I didn’t know it beforehand but JP also prefers to play 13. Defensively he will be fine there.
“This might be a long-term move but we will see how it goes – it’s in JP’s hands now.
“Going to the World Cup you need players with versatility and JP offers that.”
Meyer opted for Ruan Pienaar and Morné Steyn as halfbacks with Fourie du Preez and Johan Goosen on the bench, although the latter pair could end up starting against Wales next week.
There was also a return for flank Schalk Burger to the Springbok team for the first time since the 2011 World Cup along with lock and skipper Victor Matfield.
Reserve back Lwazi Mvovo returns to the side for the first time since 2012.
The Bok side: Willie le Roux; Cornal Hendricks, JP Pietersen, Frans Steyn, Bryan Habana; Morné Steyn, Ruan Pienaar; Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts, Francois Louw, Victor Matfield (capt), Bakkies Botha, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis (v-capt), Tendai Mtawarira.
Reserves: Schalk Brits, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Coenie Oosthuizen, Flip van der Merwe, Schalk Burger, Fourie du Preez, Johan Goosen, Lwazi Mvovo.
Bitter-sweet Bok call-up for Cornal
An anomaly in the system means that only players who feature in a Test match, or in a match on an overseas tour, earn Springbok numbers and colours.
So until such time Hendricks will only be known as a Springbok representative in the same way as scrumhalf Louis Schreuder and hooker Scarra Ntubeni are listed after being non-playing tourists to Europe last year.
But none of that mattered to Hendricks, the 2013 SA Sevens Player of the Year, who was overjoyed to be picked in a team alongside some of his heroes such as Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen.
“It’s always been my dream to play for the Springboks one day and ever since my switch from Sevens it’s been a goal of mine,” said Hendricks.
“But the easy part was being picked. The hard part is going to be keeping my place in the team. I’m thankful for the chance.
“The switch from Sevens has been a learning curve but I believe I’ve improved my individual skills – especially under the high ball.”
Hendricks ousted Pietersen from the right wing with the latter chosen at outside centre for this clash in a potential sign of the future.
Pietersen is also not available for the Rugby Championship in August due to his Japanese club commitments and that forced coach Heyneke Meyer to relook at the wing situation.
“Because of JP’s situation and unavailability later this year I decided I want to have a close look at Cornal at wing and see what he can do at a higher level,” said Meyer.
“I’ve got a great feeling about Cornal at this level because he has been superb in Super Rugby and also shown some unique skills in training, which has us pretty excited about what he is capable of doing.”
Centre is not an unfamiliar position for Pietersen, who has worn the number 13 jersey for the Sharks and the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan but never at international level.
Meyer suggested that Pietersen’s move to centre could become a permanent switch in the coming months.
“JP has proven himself at wing but he also has experience at outside centre,” said Meyer.
“He is big and strong and if you look around the world guys like Stirling Mortlock and Tana Umaga spent time at wing before moving to outside centre.
“I didn’t know it beforehand but JP also prefers to play 13. Defensively he will be fine there.
“This might be a long-term move but we will see how it goes – it’s in JP’s hands now.
“Going to the World Cup you need players with versatility and JP offers that.”
Meyer opted for Ruan Pienaar and Morné Steyn as halfbacks with Fourie du Preez and Johan Goosen on the bench, although the latter pair could end up starting against Wales next week.
There was also a return for flank Schalk Burger to the Springbok team for the first time since the 2011 World Cup along with lock and skipper Victor Matfield.
Reserve back Lwazi Mvovo returns to the side for the first time since 2012.
The Bok side: Willie le Roux; Cornal Hendricks, JP Pietersen, Frans Steyn, Bryan Habana; Morné Steyn, Ruan Pienaar; Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts, Francois Louw, Victor Matfield (capt), Bakkies Botha, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis (v-capt), Tendai Mtawarira.
Reserves: Schalk Brits, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Coenie Oosthuizen, Flip van der Merwe, Schalk Burger, Fourie du Preez, Johan Goosen, Lwazi Mvovo.
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