JOHANNESBURG — The Springbok players selected for the end-of-year tour to Ireland, France, Italy and Wales will gather today for a week of preparation before heading to Dublin on Friday. The squad was announced yesterday, following the final rugby match of the year, WP’s Currie Cup final victory over the Sharks. Despite being on the losing side, three uncapped Sharks players have made the final cut. The team shows no real surprises, though the omission of Bulls centre Jan Serfontein might raise a few eyebrows. Serfontein, who has partnered with Jesse Kriel in the Bok midfield in eight of this year’s nine Test matches, has signed for Montpellier and while he remains eligible for the Boks, he has reportedly asked not to be considered for the tour so that he can concentrate of establishing himself at his new club. Jean-Luc du Preez injured an ankle in Saturday’s Currie Cup final and his place will only be confirmed once an MRI scan reveals the extent of the injury. If Du Preez is unable to join his twin brother Dan in the squad, his place is expected to be taken by Lions and Sevens star Kwagga Smith. Bok coach Allister Coetzee has been consistent with his selection, though he has rewarded Bulls fullback Warrick Gelant and Sharks centre Lukhanyo Am after excellent Currie Cup seasons. – David O’Sullivan
From SA Rugby
Exciting young backs Warrick Gelant and Lukhanyo Am, as well as Dan du Preez and Louis Schreuder are the four uncapped players in the Springbok squad of 34 players announced on Sunday for the 2017 Castle Lager Outgoing Tour.
Furthermore, experienced prop Coenie Oosthuizen has been recalled to the squad having successfully completed his rehabilitation from an arm injury, which meant he missed the Springboks’ recent home Tests against Australia and New Zealand.
Also included in the squad are loose forward Uzair Cassiem, who has recovered from the rib injury he sustained against the Wallabies in Bloemfontein, and the experienced Tendai Mtawarira, who missed the encounter against the All Blacks in Cape Town because of family reasons.
There are also recalls to the squad for the Toyota Free State Cheetahs duo of Francois Venter (centre) and Oupa Mohoje (loose forward).
Gelant, who played for the Junior Springboks and Springbok Sevens teams, will accompany the Boks on tour for the first time following impressive performances this year.
Am is back in the Springbok fold after his initial squad selection in June, which was thwarted by injury, while Du Preez and Schreuder were both part of the Springboks’ recent Castle Lager Rugby Championship squad.
With the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan in mind, the forthcoming tour will give Springbok coach Allister Coetzee the ideal opportunity to broaden his player base and expose more young talent to the Bok environment and the rigorous pressures of Test match rugby.
“This squad reflects consistency and continuity, while we also rewarded players who have constantly shown good form this season,” explained Coetzee.
“Warrick and Lukhanyo are two examples of players who have excelled in the season so far. It’s great to have them in the squad and I look forward to working with them, but at the same time I feel sorry for Sbu Nkosi in particular – he had an impressive debut senior season and it is unfortunate that he will miss the tour because of his elbow injury.
Flanker Jean-Luc du Preez, who sustained an ankle injury sustained in the Currie Cup final on Saturday, will undergo an MRI scan and Monday and his inclusion in the squad is subject to the results of the scan and the orthopaedic opinion. The decision to call for a possible replacement, if needed, will depend on the outcome of the scan and orthopaedic opinion.
“With the World Cup now less than two years away, this demanding tour gives us another very good opportunity to keep on building depth and experience.
“Eight new players were capped so far this season and a total of 19 new international players made their Springbok debuts since the 2015 Rugby World Cup, and we’ve also had a number of new Springbok captains since then. Our process to rebuild the Bok team and steadily working towards the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan is continuing at a good and satisfying pace.
Coetzee said he would also like to see continuous improvement and progress, building on the foundations laid so far this year.
“So far this season, this group has shown a genuine willingness to evolve and they continuously strive to be better players within our environment,” said Coetzee.
“Ireland, France, Italy and Wales will each be a huge contest, however, we are looking forward to the challenge in different conditions.”
Eben Etzebeth will continue to lead the side in the injury-absence of Warren Whiteley, but the squad will be without Jan Serfontein, who asked not to be considered for the tour as he wants to settle in at French club Montpellier, who he has joined recently.
See why SPRINGBOK Magazine think the 5 debutants from the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour are set for bright futures >> https://t.co/4AyK46F7PB pic.twitter.com/Q231o8jlRF
— South African Rugby (@Springboks) December 14, 2016
Coetzee also announced that Siya Kolisi will return to Cape Town after the Test against France in Paris on 18 November as his wife, Rachel, is due to give birth the following week. He will not be available for the Test against Italy on 25 November in Padova, but will re-join the group for the final tour match in Cardiff against Wales.
Players who are contracted to overseas clubs – Franco Mostert, Francois Louw and Elton Jantjies – will not be considered for selection for the 2 December encounter against Wales, as this Test falls outside the international window.
Other players not considered for selection for the four-week tour because of injury or other reasons include amongst other: Warren Whiteley (No 8), Jaco Kriel (flank), Frans Malherbe (prop), Sbu Nkosi (wing), Ruan Combrinck (wing) and Jan Serfontein (centre).
The Springboks’ tour fixtures are:
11 November vs Ireland in Dublin
18 November vs France in Paris
25 November vs Italy in Padova
2 December vs Wales in Cardiff
The Springbok tour squad for the 2017 Castle Lager Outgoing Tour to Europe:
Forwards (in alphabetical order)
Uzair Cassiem (flank,Toyota Free State Cheetahs), 6 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Lood de Jager (lock, Vodacom Blue Bulls), 32 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Ruan Dreyer (prop, Xerox Golden Lions), 4 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Dan du Preez (No 8, Cell C Sharks), 0 caps, 0 points
Jean-Luc du Preez (loose forward, Cell C Sharks), 10 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Pieter-Steph du Toit (lock/flank,DHL Western Province), 29 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Eben Etzebeth (lock, DHL Western Province), 63 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Steven Kitshoff (prop DHL Western Province), 19 caps, 0 points
Siya Kolisi (flank, DHL Western Province), 25 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Francois Louw (loose forward, Bath, England), 54 caps, 40 points (8 tries)
Wilco Louw (prop, DHL Western Province), 1 cap, 0 points
Malcolm Marx (hooker, Xerox Golden Lions), 11 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Bongi Mbonambi (hooker, DHL Western Province), 11 caps, 0 points
Oupa Mohojé (flank, Toyota Free State Cheetahs), 17 caps, 0 points
Franco Mostert (lock, Emirates Lions/Ricoh Black Rams, Japan), 15 caps, 0 points
Tendai Mtawarira (prop, Cell C Sharks), 95 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Trevor Nyakane (prop,Vodacom Blue Bulls), 34 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Coenie Oosthuizen (prop, Cell C Sharks), 29 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
Chiliboy Ralepelle (hooker,Cell C Sharks), 22 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Backs
Lukhanyo Am (centre, Cell C Sharks), 0 caps, o points
Curwin Bosch (flyhalf, Cell C Sharks), 1 cap, 0 points
Andries Coetzee (fullback, Xerox Golden Lions), 9 caps, 0 points
Ross Cronjé (scrumhalf, Xerox Golden Lions), 6 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Damian de Allende (centre, DHL Western Province), 27 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
Warrick Gelant (fullback, Vodacom Blue Bulls), 0 caps, 0 points
Elton Jantjies (flyhalf, Emirates Lions/NTT Shining Arcs, Japan), 20 caps, 198 points (2 tries, 37 conversions, 38 penalties)
Jesse Kriel (centre, Vodacom Blue Bulls), 25 caps, 30 points (6 tries)
Dillyn Leyds (wing, DHL Western Province), 5 caps, 0 points
Rudy Paige (scrumhalf, Vodacom Blue Bulls), 11 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Handré Pollard (flyhalf, Vodacom Blue Bulls), 22 caps, 190 points (2 tries, 30 conversions, 37 penalties, 3 drop goals)
Raymond Rhule (wing,Toyota Free State Cheetahs), 7 caps, 5 points (1 try)
Louis Schreuder (scrumhalf, Cell C Sharks), 0 caps, 0 points
Courtnall Skosan (wing, Xerox Golden Lions), 9 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Francois Venter (centre, Toyota Free State Cheetahs), 3 caps, 0 points
Source:Â http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?category=sarugby/springboks&id=4164564
