WEDNESDAY, 1.00PM:
THERE are no real surprises in the four regional sides that will represent South Africa in this year’s Super 12 Rugby series.
Helgard Muller, who was not included in the Golden Cats group, has been given the nod ahead of fellow Springbok Christiaan Scholtz. The only other notable absentees are Springboks Joggie Viljoen and Dale Santon.
The squads:
GOLDEN CATS
(Free State Cheetahs, Gauteng Lions, Griqualand West, Northern Free State.)
Coach:
Peet Kleynhans
Home grounds:
Ellis Park, Free State Stadium.
Colours:
White jersey with blue and gold shoulders, navy blue shorts and socks.
New players:
None
Key players:
Japie Mulder, Jannie de Beer, Os du Randt, Andre Venter, Rassie Erasmus.
Backs:
Jorrie Kruger, Thinus Delport,Chris Badenhorst, Jannie van der Walt, Tobie de Jager, Jan-Harm van Wyk, Japie Mulder, Brendan Venter, Helgard Muller, Hennie le Roux, Jannie de Beer, MJ Smith, Werner Swanepoel, Johan Roux, Kat Myburgh, JP du Plooy.
Forwards
Os du Randt, James Dalton, Balie Swart, Naka Drotske, Willie Meyer, Dawie Theron, Ryno Opperman, Kobus Wiese, Braam Els, Rassie Erasmus, Andre Venter, Hannes Strydom, Phillip Smith, Gideon Watts, AJ Venter, Charl van Rensburg.
WESTERN STORMERS
(Western Province, Boland, South Western Districts.)
Coach:
Harry Viljoen
Home grounds:
Newlands, Stadium Boland, Outeniqua Park.
Colours:
White jersey, with mustard and blue shoulders, green, red and blue stripes, navy blue shorts and socks.
New players:
Jopie Adlam (North West), Marius Hurter (Northerns), Charl Marais (Free State).
Key players:
James Small, Percy Montgomery, Justin Swart, Pieter Rossouw, Bobby Skinstad and Andrew Aitken
Backs:
Percy Montgomery, Justin Swart, James Small, Chester Williams, Pieter Rossouw, Breyton Paulse, Dick Muir, Christian Stewart, Robbie Fleck, Rickus Lubbe, Louis Koen, Pieter O’Neill, Jopie Adlam, Freddie Roberts.
Forwards
Toks van der Linde, Pierre Marais, Marius Hurter, Cobus Visagie, Charl Marais, Selbourne Boome, Hottie Louw, Julian Barnard, Johnnie Trytsman, Robby Brink, Bobby Skinstad, Harold Karele, Jannie Coetzee, Andrew Aitken, Russell Nelson
COASTAL SHARKS
(Natal, Border, Eastern Province)
Coach:
Ian McIntosh
Home grounds:
King’s Park
Colours:
Black jersey with white, red and green stripes, black shorts and socks.
New players:
Joe Gillingham, Chris Rossouw and Warren Brosnihan (Gauteng), Stefan Terblanche (Boland), Stephen Brink (Free State), Boeta Wessels and JP van der Mescht (Griquas), Morne Visser(WP).
Key players:
Andre Joubert, Henry Honiball, Mark Andrews, Kevin Putt, Gary Teichmann.
Backs:
Andre Joubert, Gavin Lawless, Shaun Payne, Stefan Terblanche, Stephen Brink, Kabous van der Westhuizen, JP van der Mescht, Pieter Muller, Joe Gillingham, Jeremy Thompson, Boeta Wessels, Henry Honiball, Kevin Putt, Hentie Martens, Chad Alcock.
Forwards
Ollie le Roux, Rob Kempson, Chris Rossouw, Mornay Visser, Adrian Garvey, John Smit, Mark Andrews, Steve Atherton, John Clade, Nico Wegner, Warren Brosnihan, Dieter Kriese, Walter Minnaar, Wickus van Heerden, Gary Teichmann
NORTHERN BULLS
(Blue Bulls, Mpumalanga Pumas, Gauteng Falcons, North West.) Coach:
Eugene van Wyk
Home grounds:
Loftus Versfeld, Johann van Riebeeck Stadium, Bosman Stadium and Olen Park
Colours:
Red jersey with blue stripes and blue waistband, red shorts and socks.
New players:
Marius Goosen, McNeil Hendriks, Jan Ackerman (Boland), Franco Smith (Griqualand West)
Key players:
Andre Snyman, Joost van der Westhuizen, Ruben Kruger, Krynau Otto and Danie van Schalkwyk.
Backs:
Casper Steyn, Marius Goosen, Jacques Olivier, McNeil Hendriks, Hannes venter, jan Ackerman, Andre Snyman, Danie van Schalkwyk, Eugene Meyer, Grant Esterhuysen, Franco Smith, Braam van Straaten, Joost van der Westhuizen, Dan van Zyl, Conrad Breytenbach
Forwards
Pierre Ribbens, Lourens Campher, Jannie Brooks, Henry Kemp, Piet Boer, Johan le Roux, Wium Basson, Krynau Otto, Derick Grobbelaar, Elandre van der Bergh, Ruben Kruger, Nicky van der Walt, Frans Allers, Schutte Bekker, Adriaan Richter, Johan Otto.