The Springbok team starts the long trip to Brisbane tomorrow with the luxury of having just over a full week to get over jetlag and prepare for the next Rugby Championship game against Australia. Two players, Lwazi Mvovo and Francois Hougaard, make a return to the national team, and while both have undeniable talent, their selection has raised some eyebrows. Mvovo has the equivalent of a boxer’s glass jaw – the high ball. He’s one of the fastest players in the game and doesn’t lack passion or commitment. But when faced with a high ball, he’s particularly vulnerable which the Irish exploited in the recent Test series. In the second Test at Ellis Park, Mvovo floundered repeatedly under a siege of high balls creating attacking opportunities for the opposition. Israel Folau and Quade Cooper are probably practicing their up-and-unders right now. Hougaard is surely rusty when it comes to the 15-man game. He played in the South African Sevens side that won a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics, substituting for the injured Seabelo Senatla in the knockout matches. He picked up a knee injury and was sidelined for the two Tests against Argentina. Has Allister Coetzee gambled in picking these two players? – David O’Sullivan
From Sport24
Lwazi Mvovo and Francois Hougaard were both included in the 28-man Springbok squad for the two away Rugby Championship Tests against Australia and New Zealand, which was named by SA Rugby on Tuesday.
The Springboks play against the Wallabies in Brisbane on September 10 and then tackle the All Blacks in Christchurch a week later (September 17).
Sharks wing Mvovo, a member of the enlarged Springbok squad named a few weeks ago, comes into the travelling party as replacement for Ruan Combrinck, who sustained a leg fracture over the weekend against Argentina in Salta. The Lions wing has been ruled out of action for up to six weeks.
Hougaard was not considered for the two Argentine Tests because of a knee injury, but the Springbok Sevens Olympian and Worcester Warriors scrumhalf has since recovered and was added to the Springbok squad.
The rest of the squad is unchanged from the one that returned from Argentina on Monday.
Flyhalf Elton Jantjies will travel with the South African squad after he left the field early on Saturday with a deep bruise to the thigh. Although cleared to tour, a decision on his availability for the Australian game will only be made next week.
“Losing Ruan is a setback for us, but injuries are part of the game and it’s good for us to be able to call on experienced players such as Lwazi and Francois,” said Springbok coach Allister Coetzee.
“We are not happy with where we find ourselves after the first two matches of the campaign. Australia will pose an even tougher challenge and it is important that we deliver a much-improved performance in Brisbane.”
The Springboks assemble in Johannesburg on Thursday morning and fly out to Australia later that evening.
Springbok touring squad:Â
Forwards: Lourens Adriaanse, Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Jaco Kriel, Francois Louw, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Oupa Mohoje, Franco Mostert, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Adriaan Strauss (captain), Warren Whiteley
Backs: Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh, Faf de Klerk, Johan Goosen, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Elton Jantjies, Jesse Kriel, Lionel Mapoe, Lwazi Mvovo, Rudy Paige, Morne Steyn – Sport 24
Source: http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/RugbyChampionship/mvovo-hougaard-to-tour-with-boks-20160830
