MONDAY, 11.45AM:
Mpumalanga scrumhalf Dan van Zyl,who narrowly missed out on selection for last year’s Bok tour, was a surprise late inclusion to the Springbok squad to tour Italy, France, England and Scotland, announced Saturday night by national coach Nick Mallett.
Van Zyl only received the green light after Gauteng Lions star Johan Roux pulled out with a knee injury after his side’s Currie Cup semi-final loss to Western Province at Newlands.
He is one of 10 new caps in the 36-man squad which is dominated by players from provincial pace-setters WP and Free State. Other new faces include Boland winger McNeil Hendricks, WP loose forwards Andrew Aitken, Corne Krige and Bobby Skinstad, Griquas flanker Phillip Smit and Boland hooker Dale Sandton.
THE SQUAD:
FULLBACKS – Thinus Delport (Gauteng Lions), Justin Swart, Percival Montgomery (both WP).
WINGS – McNeil Hendricks (Boland), Breyton Paulse, James Small, Pieter Rossouw (all WP).
CENTRES – Joe Gillingham (GL), Dick Muir (WP), Andre Snyman (Blue Bulls), Franco Smith (Griqualand West).
FLYHALVES – Jannie de Beer (Free State), Henry Honiball (Natal), Boeta Wessels (GW).
SCRUMHALVES – Joost van der Westhuizen (BB), Werner Swanepoel (FS), Dan van Zyl (Mpumalanga).
No8S – Andrew Aitken (WP), Gary Teichmann (Natal, capt).
FLANKERS – Johan Erasmus, Andre Venter (both FS), Corne Krige, Bobby Skinstad (both WP), Phillip Smit (GW).
LOCKS – Mark Andrews (Natal), Wium Basson, Krynauw Otto (both BB), Braam Els (FS).
HOOKERS – James Dalton (GL), Naka Drotske (FS), Dale Santon (Boland). PROPS – Os du Randt, Willie Meyer (both FS), Dawie Theron (GW), Adrian Garvey (Natal), Toks van der Linde (WP).
SPORT BRIEFS
TEST RAINED OUT
The fourth day of the Pakistan-South African test was abandoned at 9.30 am when rain waterlogged the outfield.
“I’m not saying we could have won, but having batted ourselves into a position where we couldn’t lose, it would have been nice to have seen what our bowlers could do.” said South African coach Woolmer.
The South Africans hit 402 at close of the first innings on Sunday and had had Pakistan on 53/1 at the time the game was called off.
BOK PHYSIO QUITSSPRINGBOK rugby physiotherapist Evan Speechly, who has been with the squad since its re-admission to international competition in 1992, has withdrawn for family reasons, to be replaced by Griqualand West’s Lambert Fick.
CURRIE CUP LOGS THE Bankfin Currie Cup standings under headings (played, won, lost, drawn, points for, against, total points)
Western Province 13 12 1 0 567 286 58
Natal 13 12 1 0 566 241 57
Free State 13 11 2 0 651 234 54
Gauteng Lions 13 9 4 0 562 399 45
Blue Bulls 13 8 5 0 382 341 40
Griqualand West 13 7 5 1 410 313 39
Boland 13 6 6 1 464 386 38
SW Districts 13 7 6 0 362 365 36
Mpumalanga 13 4 9 0 321 438 22
Gauteng Falcons 13 3 10 0 349 600 18
Border 13 3 10 0 277 569 17
North Free State 13 3 10 0 343 744 17
North West 13 3 10 0 346 507 16
Eastern Province 13 2 11 0 284 462 12
BLACK WINS MARLBRO BYRON Black of Zimbabwe beat Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten 6-3 6-7 (4/7) 6-2 3-6 7-6 (7/5) to win the Malboro Championships in Hong Kong on Sunday.
ZIM WINS TRI-NATION ZIMBABWE were crowned Presidents’ Cup Tri-nations tournament champions in Nairobi, Kenya on Sunday. Zimbabwe scored 272 for six and Kenya replied with 190 in 46.1 overs.