DAVID SHAPSHAK, Johannesburg | Thursday 5.00pm.
Gary Teichmann has retained his Springbok captaincy in a 32-man squad named by coach Nick Mallett on Thursday. The number eight and Natal skipper missed the last four weeks of the Super 12 with a knee injury – which precipitated a captaincy scare.
Also named is another key player who has returned from injury, Joost van der Westhuizen, who has missed most of the season.
The squad, which contains a good blend of experienced campaigners and rising stars, will be trimmed to 24 or 26 players ahead of the first Test of the year, against Italy on June 12 in Port Elizabeth.
The team will assemble in the coastal city on June 2, the night of South Africa’s second democratic election. The first Italy Test will be dedicated to outgoing President Nelson Mandela.
True to his promise, Mallett has rewarded stand-out performances in the Super 12 with call-ups and his squad contains 11 Western Province players who did duty in South Africa’s top Super 12 tea, the Stormers.
Upcoming players like Breyton Paulse, Selborne Boome, Willie Meyer, David Von Hoesslin, Albert van den Berg, Deon Kayser, Charl Marais and Andr Vos have been named.
Earning a recall, of sorts are 1995 World Cup heroes Japie Mulder and Chester Williams. Back too is hard-tackling centre Pieter Muller and protg flyhalf Gaffie du Toit, both of whom have struggled with injuries.
Mallett, whose man management skills produced outstanding results when he took over the side and coached them to a world record equaling 17 consecutive victories, is planning team building workshop on June 3 before being trimmed.
Mallett stressed that these 32 players are in no way his final Tri-Nations squad.
“These are only the players we are looking at, at this stage. There is a lot of Currie Cup rugby coming up in the next few weeks and it’s important we watch how certain players perform for possible inclusion in the Tri-Nations teams and of course the Rugby World Cup,” he said.
Sarfu CEO Rian Oberholzer confirmed Heyneke Meyer as assistant coach and Hilton Adonis as video operator.
The squad:
Forwards: Mark Andrews (Natal), Selborne Boome (Western Province), Naka Drotsk (Free State), Rassie Erasmus (Golden Lions), Robbie Kempson (Western Province), Corn Krige (Western Province), Ollie Le Roux (Natal), Charl Marais (Western Province), Willie Meyer (Golden Lions), Krynauw Otto (Blue Bulls), Bobby Skinstad (Western Province), Gary Teichmann (Natal — captain), Albert van den Berg (Griquas), Andr Venter (Free State), Cobus Visagie (Western Province), Andr Vos (Golden Lions).
Backs: Gaffie du Toit (Griquas), Robbie Fleck (Western Province), Henry Honiball (Natal), Deon Kayser (Eastern Province), Percy Montgomery (Western Province), Japie Mulder (Golden Lions), Pieter Muller (Natal), Breyton Paulse (Western Province), Pieter Rossouw (Western Province), Andr Snyman (Blue Bulls), Werner Swanepoel (Golden Lions), Stefan Terblanche (Natal), Joost van der Westhuizen (Blue Bulls), Braam Van Straaten (Western Province), David Von Hoesslin (Griquas), Chester Williams (Golden Lions).