The nature of Test rugby is that it tends to run in four-year cycles, centred on the mammoth spectacle of the World Cup. The Springboks face the next three-and-a-half years as World Cup defending champions, a lofty pedestal that has proven very difficult to defend in the past.
Isma-eel Dollie as one of a few lesser surprises in the Springbok training squad of 42 members that was named on Saturday night. The new Springbok coach, Peter de Villiers, has included a number of players who are not regulars for their Super 14 franchises or who had limited opportunities because of injury this season.
The Stormers beat the Lions 22-13 after a late rally in a thrilling, if not always good, Super 14 match at Ellis Park on Saturday. However, their inability to score five tries meant that only one of either the Stormers or the Sharks, who were playing the Chiefs later on Saturday, could still make the semifinals.
The Stormers are planning to hit the Lions' defence hard where it is likely to hurt most in Saturday's Super 14 clash at Ellis Park. The fragile Lions' defence have leaked 41 tries this season, and after 12 matches they have conceded a staggering 345 points -- almost 29 points per game.
Springbok and Lions centre Jaque Fourie is set to make his comeback after a stomach injury when the Lions meet the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in a Vodacom Cup quarterfinal next weekend. The South African Rugby Union has given its blessing for Fourie to take part in the Vodacom play-offs.
South Africa have made three changes for Saturday's non-cap international against the Barbarians at Twickenham -- Jake White's last match as coach of the world champions. Bismarck du Plesis takes the place of World Cup-winning captain John Smit after the hooker's French club, Clermont Auvergne, refused to release him for this fixture.
Departing South Africa coach Jake White insisted he wouldn't miss the demands of international rugby after seeing his last Test in charge of the Springboks end in a 34-12 win for the world champions over Wales in Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday. "I am not going to get bored at all," White said.
Jake White's final Test as South Africa coach ended with a win as the world champions beat Wales 34-12 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday. JP Pietersen was in superb form, the wing scoring one of South Africa's five tries and setting up two for centre Jaque Fourie.
South Africa captain John Smit and star wing Bryan Habana are among nine members of the Springboks' victorious World Cup final starting XV named to face Wales in Saturday's one-off rugby union international at the Millennium Stadium. Although several players are missing from the two-match tour, the side still contains plenty of experienced campaigners.
Forwards Danie Rossouw, Wickus van Heerden and Gurthro Steenkamp withdrew injured on Monday from South Africa's short rugby tour of Britain. Star scrumhalf Fourie du Preez also looks like staying home and missing the Test against Wales at Cardiff and the celebration match with the Barbarians at Twickenham on December 1.
