SARU name provisional 2011 Springbok RWC squad

BOOM! Deserved...

The following from SARU: The South African Rugby Union on Wednesday named 51 players who have been called to a national team planning session at the start of next month. The players will attend two days of meetings and logistical discussions in the first of three national camps in preparation for the international season.

â€œSARUâ€™s priority is first and foremost with Springbok preparations in this Rugby World Cup year and with the support of the provinces our national teams department has been able to plan three squad get-togethers during Vodacom Super Rugby,â€ explained Jurie Roux, SARU CEO.

There are many demands on the Springboks as well as off-field operational matters to be attended to in a Rugby Wold Cup year and as part of Peter de Villiersâ€™ long-term planning he requested that time be made now so that the team can get straight to on-field work once they gather for the first Tests of the year in July.â€

De Villiers said:

â€œOur first Tri-Nations Test kicks off only two weeks after the Vodacom Super Rugby final and I wanted to make sure that we can get straight to work on the field with some quality preparation when we get together and not be compromised by players familiarising themselves with our structures or understanding logistical issues.

By the end of this series of camps I hope that any of the players we call on will be familiar with our on and off the field systems and the logistical boxes have all been ticked. These sessions are not about selection now â€“ theyâ€™re about being ready when we make the final selections.â€

The selectors named seven uncapped players in the planning group although only three of them are not already Springboks: wing Lionel Mapoe, scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius and looseforward Duane Vermeulen.

The four uncapped Springboks among the group are flyhalf Elton Jantjies, scrumhalf Charl McLeod and props Coenie Oosthuizen and Werner Kruger. All four appeared for the Springboks against the Barbarians in December, 2010.

Overseas based players were not considered for the sessions.

The closed planning session will take place in Cape Town on May 1 and 2.

The first Springbok squad of the season will be named on July 2 or 9, depending on South African representation in the Vodacom Super Rugby final.

The players called to the national team planning session are (in alphabetical order):

What are your thoughts on the initial squad?

Comments

http://www.blogspotrugby.com Dooley

So Ricky Januarie and Adi Jacobs make the squad ahead of players who actually play rugby at their unions? Surely this is ridiculous now!

Ricky isn’t even contracted anymore, so shouldn’t SARU trim some fat (excuse the pun)?
http://www.judgerugby.blogspot.com JudgeRugby

Barring the fact that there are 700 hookers in the squad, a scrummy that aspires to be a hooker and the exception of Duvenhage, all seems to be in order. There is a slight problem with some very VERY tired old Crocks, lets hope they change their attitude when they don the Green and Gold
http://www.blogspotrugby.com Dooley

@JudgeRugby:

Everything else in order. Do you care to explain the following:
Maku ???
Alistair Hargreaves ????
Waylon Murray ??
Adi Jacobs ????
Elton Jantjies ???
Lionel Mapoe ??
Deon Stegman ?
The Chuck

‘..trim some fat..’ Hehe..! Yup, selecting Ricky and Adi is getting beyond a joke now…! Agree with your other question marks too… They’ve been trying to groom Hargreaves for ages now but still hasn’t made the step up. With Elton, they probably just want to give him a feel of training with the Boks as they may see him as a player for the future (far far away still..!) The others, well, they’re just rubbish. Why so many hookers? And scrumhalves? Only one out and out fullback? I know we have Lambie and Gio but lets not turn Lambie into another Ruan… So perhaps place for a Conrad Jantjies or Ludik..? I’m not entirely sure of how much we are actually achieving with this training camp and if it’s all a bit meaningless… Especially considering that Div will more than likely be calling on some of the overseas based players at some stage.
RugbyGal

A few there that really don’t deserve it. Even if it is just to get used to the setup as he states. Ricky, Elton, Stegman (and he has 4 caps – how did he manage that) Adi.
Most of them are not even starters for their franchise. Then the underperformers that we see year in year out. Wynand comes to mind first. When did Spies last have a good game for the Bokke? Bakkies – Red Card Liability.
Well anyways no use the get excited bout this. Guess we all know what the WC group going to look like. Last years Tri-nations squad!
LondonWasp

Why Adi Jacobs? As most of the Springboks are not on form it would at least make sense to pick some back-ups who are. Doppies la Grange would not start but at least be a good reserve to fall back on if Fourie, de Johng, de Villiers isn’t working
dachief

come on get rid of ricky, duvenhage is 200 times beter he is one of the best at this point. what about applon de villiers u suck.
Stefan T.

Yes, we all agree with the Adi Jacobs, Ricky Januarie – BIG JOKE!! How can they select someone that’s not even in the beginnig team for his franchise? How can they select 16 players from a team (Bulls) that’s below average in the “Super 15″? Yes, I know you need experience, but you must be on form. In the Bulls team it’s only Bakkies, Bjorn Basson and maybe F. Hougaardt that gets my vote. You’ll only know the value of a Bakkies if you’ve played with or against him AND by the way, he’s doing 50% of Victor’s work, so if he can play with a Andies Bekker, that does his part, we’ll see a different Bakkies. Overseas players? Pick an oversea’s player for a position that we’ve got a problem or a shortage in, like tighthead. Mujati, (Springbok a few years back), has anybody seen his latest form, unbelievable. Will the All blacks select experience before form? Is there ever “surprises” in there sqauds? Div pls select a “in form, although young” team, but give them a experienced captain (John Smit). Although the Bok selectors “surprise” us everytime, I’ll stay a Springbok supporter threw and threw. GO BOKKE!!!
someone

What the f*** is waylon murry doing in the squad he is useless and doesn’t know how to pass (or run for that matter)
Roelfie

I’m missing someone here, oh yes… Frans Steyn?? Leave everyone else, but he is a bonus in everey team he plays for, and since he went overseas he has just improved… I’m worried!!
Icy Narsiah

Adi you go man you can turn around any game no matter how late you get in
strong shark supporter………well done to be selected thus far
Tracy

Sorry – I’ve been sitting down in Aus since the last World Cup so I’m a little out of the loop. I know Francois Steyn is currently playing his rugby in France, but how has he not been named? Will the French not release him? We must have him. Any man who can kick a drop goal from more than halfway down the pitch and crush the Wallabies’ hopes in a second MUST be on the team.
Tonette

Some of these never-have-beens that keep on getting selected are either long lost family members of Div or his secret lovers…that’s the only explanation that makes sense. Adi Jacobs is a yellow card waiting to happen at best, and for Ricky January it’s usually December before he decides what to do with the ball. I hate Stormers with a passion but even I have to agree…Duvenhage deserves a shot! And if you want to give future players a little taste, pick the Ebersohn twins…Elton is useless.
victor andanje

why isn’t anyone asking bout SAREL PRETORIUS…arguably the best half back in super rugby at present?tht squad should be based on merit as much as experience so does it mean once u make the blue bulls squad you automatically qualify for the boks team??most of their players had a poor season…luck passion and its a world cup year…my thots
PETERGRANT1012

GO SPRINGBOKS I WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT U SPECIALLY PETER GRANT
Herms

Pieter de Villiers you need to go see a shrink! What is a “has been” like John Smit doing in our team??? He should have retired from rugby a year ago. I feel sorry for the good players that were selected as under his leadership they will not make it far in the competition. He does not have what it takes anymore to lead a team to victory!!!

Tomorrow I will be buying my New Zealand rugby shirt. Go All Blacks!!