The two form sides so far in 2010, current Tri Nations and World Champions, the Springboks, along with long time IRB #1 team, the All Blacks, have named their respective squads for the 2010 Tri Nations series.

There have been a few surprise omissions from the respective squads, for the Springboks most noticeably the exclusion of Francois Steyn, giving fuel to the rumours of a rift between him/his agent and Springbok coach, Peter De Villiers, who seems to prefer the, erratic at best, Zane Kirchner for the Springbok #15 jumper.

Other perplexing,  possible problems will be who PDV now considers to be his first choice centre pairing, and whether he will play highly experienced players like his namesake, Jean De Villiers out of position.

2010 Springbok Tri Nations squad:

Backs: Gio Aplon (Vodacom Stormers), Juan de Jongh (Vodacom Stormers), Jean de Villiers (Vodacom Western Province), Jaque Fourie (Vodacom Stormers), Bryan Habana (Vodacom Stormers), Francois Hougaard (Vodacom Bulls), Butch James (Bath), Ricky Januarie (Vodacom Stormers), Zane Kirchner (Vodacom Bulls), Wynand Oliver (Vodacom Bulls), Ruan Pienaar (Sharks), Morné Steyn (Vodacom Bulls).

Forwards: Andries Bekker (Vodacom Stormers), Bakkies Botha (Vodacom Bulls), BJ Botha (Ulster), Schalk Burger (Vodacom Stormers), Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), Ryan Kankowski (Sharks), Francois Louw (Vodacom Stormers), Victor Matfield (Vodacom Bulls), Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), Dewald Potgieter (Vodacom Bulls), Chiliboy Ralepelle (Vodacom Bulls), Danie Rossouw (Vodacom Bulls), John Smit (Sharks, captain), Pierre Spies (Vodacom Bulls), Gurthrö Steenkamp (Vodacom Bulls), CJ van der Linde (Vodacom Cheetahs).

In a similar sequence of events, the All Black selectors opted to omit All Blacks, Aled de Malmanche, Neemia Tialata, Adam Thomson and Zac Guildford, as well as the devastatingly in-form, Hosea Gear, who was at the forefront of the Maori’s superb three match clean-sweep, in the recent New Zealand Maori Centenary Series.

Gear’s omission, which by now has to start raising rumours that Graham Henry is either smoking pot or a member of some sort of underground Neo-Nazi brotherhood, is absolutely bazaar, as New Zealand are struggling to find an in form winger, and Gear has been on fire in recent weeks!

The All Blacks first Test of the Tri-Nations is the highly anticipated, sold-out Test, against South Africa at Eden Park, Auckland, on Saturday 10 July 2010.

2010 All Black Tri Nations squad:

Forwards: John Afoa (Auckland), Anthony Boric (North Harbour), Tom Donnelly (Otago), Corey Flynn (Canterbury), Ben Franks (Tasman), Owen Franks (Canterbury), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Richie McCaw (Canterbury, captain), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Liam Messam (Waikato), Kieran Read (Canterbury), Brad Thorn (Canterbury), Victor Vito (Wellington), Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour).

Backs: Daniel Carter (Canterbury), Jimmy Cowan (Southland), Aaron Cruden (Manawatu), Israel Dagg (Hawke’s Bay), Cory Jane (Wellington), Richard Kahui (Waikato), Mils Muliaina (Waikato), Ma’a Nonu (Wellington), Rene Ranger (Northland), Josevata Rokocoko (Auckland), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Benson Stanley (Auckland), Piri Weepu (Wellington).

  • The Wallabies have not yet announced their squad. Watch this space though.