Le Roux omitted from Bok training squad
The make-up of the Springboks' 18-man 'rehabilitation and conditioning' squad gives some early pointers into the insight of coach Allister Coetzee's thinking ahead of the 2016 Rugby Championship campaign.
|||Cape Town - The make-up of the Springboks' 18-man 'rehabilitation and conditioning' squad gives some early pointers into the insight of coach Allister Coetzee's thinking ahead of the 2016 Rugby Championship campaign.
The squad does not include overseas-based or Lions players but many of them are likely to be included in the Boks' Rugby Championship squad which will be announced on Saturday after the 2016 Super Rugby final in New Zealand.
There are a handful of players who have been called up for the four-day camp starting at Stellenbosch on Monday but will be on the injury list for a while and may not be in the running to duty in the pipe-opener against Argentina in Nelspruit on August 20.
However, the coaching staff will be able to assess their recovery process over the next few days. Patrick Lambie (concussion) could be the exception although by this time he would have dropped down in the flyhalf pecking order given Elton Jantjies' sublime form in recent times.
The most notable names missing from the Stellenbosch group are hookers Bongi Mbonambi and Scarra Ntubeni as well as fullback Willie le Roux.
All three players were in the Bok squad that managed to scrape a 2-1 series win over Ireland in June.
In much the same vein as Jantjies, Lions hooker Malcolm Marx has been outstanding and given his present form he selects himself. It is very likely that the squad will need a third No 2 and with Mbonambi and Ntubeni consigned to Currie Cup duty the door may have been left open for the Montpellier-based Bismarck du Plessis whose good form there has made him a favourite for the captaincy this season.
In Le Roux's absence, Jessie Kriel and Lambie shape up as the No 15 jumper contenders along with Racing Metro's Johan Goosen who has played mostly at centre and occasionally at fullback.
He brings an exciting dimension into the mix and his tactical kicking is an asset that cannot be overlooked. Ruan Combrinck, the Lions wing, can also be relied on to play at fullback.
The injured flanker Siya Kolisi would have been a strong contender but will be on the sidelines for three months nursing an ankle injury. It has left Bok door open for his Stormers teammate Sikhumbuzo Notshe who has performed consistently this season.
Jaco Kriel wasn't given due recognition during the Ireland series but his form cannot be ignored much longer.
Of the overseas-based loosies, Francois Louw and Duane Vermeulen are likely to force their way into the squad.
The Bok squad in camp at Stellebosch: Damian de Allende (Stormers), Lood de Jager (Cheetahs), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), Vincent Koch (Stormers), Jesse Kriel (Bulls), Pat Lambie (Sharks), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Oupa Mohoje (Cheetahs), Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Stormers), Trevor Nyakane (Bulls), Coenie Oosthuizen (Sharks), Rudy Paige (Bulls), Handre Pollard (Bulls), Jan Serfontein (Bulls) and Adriaan Strauss (Bulls) - African News Agency (ANA)