DAVID SHAPSHAK, Cape Town | Monday 3.35pm.
GARY Teichmann was axed as Springbok skipper on Monday and Joost van der Westhuizen will lead South Africa in its defence of the Tri-Nations and World Cup.
In other radical changes announced by coach Nick Mallett on Monday afternoon in Cape Town, veterans Adriaan Garvey, Brendan Venter, Ruben Kruger, Andre Snyman and Chris Rossouw were recalled to a side that has suffered record defeats to Wales, New Zealand and Australia in the past month.
Henry Honiball, although suffering an ankle injury, has been named in the 26-man squad as has Bobby Skinstad, who returned to rugby with a 30 minute spell for Western Province against Free State on Saturday after injuring his knee.
Mallett said Van der Westhuizen was delighted to have the captaincy and downplayed reported conflicts between him and Skinstad.
”Joost is without doubt the first choice in his position. He has also had success before as captain of the Springbok Sevens team and also led the Blue Bulls to the Bankfin Currie Cup title last year. He was also the vice-captain of the Springbok team in 1998,” Mallett said.
While Natal fullback Andr Joubert’s name was mentioned by the selectors, Mallett said he thought Percy Montgomery had done enough to retain his number 15 jersey.
Mark Andrews, South Africa’s most capped Springbok rugby player, was excluded from the squad, as were injured players Japie Mulder, Pieter Muller and Corne Krige.
Mallett dropped Braam van Straaten, Charl Marias and Dave von Hoesslin, while Anton Leonard, the promising South Western District loose forward, who earned his first cap last week in place of the injured Teichmann and Andre Vos, did not make the cut.
It is expected that Skinstad will play at number eight.
Teichmann’s omission effectively means the end of his international career that began against Wales in 1995. He also led the Springboks on a record 34 occasions and has played 41 tests for South Africa.
Mallett said: ”In closing I’d like to pay tribute to Gary’s great contribution to Springbok rugby. I’m sure that he will always be remembered as one of the great Springbok captains. ”Personally I wish to thank him for the hard work he has put in as Captain over the last two years and sympathize with his disappointment.” — MWP
Springbok squad:
Forwards: Selborne Boome (Western Province), Naka Drotske (Free State), Os Du Randt (FS), Rassie Erasmus (Golden Lions), Adrian Garvey (Natal Sharks), Ruben Kruger (Blue Bulls), Ollie le Roux (N), Krynauw Otto (BB), Chris Rossouw (N), Bobby Skinstad (WP), Albert van den Berg (Griquas), Andr Venter (FS), Cobus Visagie (WP), Andr Vos (Lions).
Backs: Gaffie Du Toit (Griquas), Robbie Fleck (WP), Henry Honiball (N), Deon Kayser (Eastern Province), Percy Montgomery (WP), Breyton Paulse (WP), Pieter Rossouw (WP), Andre Snyman (BB), Werner Swanepoel (Lions), Stefan Terblanche(N), Joost van der Westhuizen (BB, captain), Brendan Venter (FS).