Meyer reveals his hand

SPRINGBOK coach Heyneke Meyer stuck largely to the players who served him in 2012 when he unveiled his first 36-man training squad yesterday, although there was room for some new faces.

Cheetahs centre Robert Ebersohn, Sharks lock Pieter-Steph du Toit and Bulls centre Jan Serfontein are three uncapped players in the group. Meyer emphasised the final squad for the June Tests against Italy, Scotland and Samoa would only be finalised after a further camp.

Standout Super Rugby performers such as the Cheetahs’ quartet of flanks Lappies Labuschagne and Heinrich Brüssow, lock Lood de Jager and prop Trevor Nyakane can consider themselves unlucky to miss out this time.

There are numerous other players who must have caught Meyer’s eye and also failed to make the cut.

Sharks scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, Cheetahs number eight Phillip van der Walt and Cheetahs wing-fullback Willie le Roux have surely been better than the Bulls’ Jano Vermaak, Pierre Spies and Zane Kirchner so far this season?

Meyer knows what he has in the Bulls trio. Wouldn’t he learn more by including players he doesn’t know?

It’s understood Southern Kings players, who are on tour in Australasia, will be included in the next camp.

The three-day camp will start in Cape Town on Sunday, the day after the Super Rugby derby between the Stormers and the Sharks at Newlands, and concludes on Tuesday.

“With minimal time to prepare for the series involving Italy, Scotland and Samoa, we’ve approached the franchises to ask for their assistance with these two camps,” said Meyer.

“It’s important to keep continuity and it was very difficult to select only 35 players, as there are many more who are currently playing great rugby.

“There have been a number of new faces who have put up their hands this year, such as Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jan Serfontein and Robert Ebersohn, while we also have a high number of players out with injuries, but who will be available for the Tests in June.

“This group is by no means a final one for the June Tests and could still change in the coming months. There are other players who impressed me in the last couple of weeks and if they continue to keep up their form I will look at them for the second camp.”

Players invited :

Forwards: Tendai Mtawarira, Jannie du Plessis, Frans Malherbe, Coenie Oosthuizen, Pat Cilliers, Adriaan Strauss, Bismarck du Plessis, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Eben Etzebeth, Flip van der Merwe, Juandré Kruger, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Franco van der Merwe, Siya Kolisi, Marcell Coetzee, Willem Alberts, Arno Botha, Duane Vermeulen, Pierre Spies, Ryan Kankowski.

Backs: Jano Vermaak, Francois Hougaard, Pat Lambie, Morné Steyn, Elton Jantjies, Jean de Villiers, Frans Steyn, Juan de Jongh, Jan Serfontein, Robert Ebersohn, Bryan Habana, Lwazi Mvovo, Raymond Rhule, JP Pietersen, Bjorn Basson, Zane Kirchner.