DAVID SHAPSHAK, Cape Town | Saturday 6.30pm.
ANDRE Vos is the new Springbok captain in the 28-man squad named on Saturday night by Sarfu President Silas Nkanunu to play a home Test against Canada and two against England next month.
Vos, who has previous led the Springboks in last year’s World Cup game against Spain as well as the mid-week side, takes over from Joost van der Westhuizen who stepped down to focus on his own form after a six month injury layoff. Van der Westhuizen is included in the squad.
Vos is the ninth Springbok captain since the sport’s readmission to the international fold in 1992.
As predicted, coach Nick Mallett has made sweeping changes and has discarded many older stalwarts in favour of younger players. But, he has kept faith with the bulk of the 1999 World Cup squad and has also rewarded Super 12 form.
Making a comeback are Chester Williams, the face of the victorious 1995 World Cup team, and another star from that team, Japie Mulder, both of whom have had a sterling run with the Cats.
Vos’ naming as captain reveals that Mallett will play an all-Cats loose trio with flank incumbents Andre Venter and Rassie Erasmus on top form. Stormers captain Corne Krige and Sharks eighthman Warren Brosnihan were also named.
Erasmus and Krige each led the Springboks once last year, while then skipper Gary Teichmann struggled with injuries before Mallett unexpectedly axed him before the World Cup and handed the captaincy to Van der Westhuizen.
In the pack, Mallett’s most surprising decisions were out of form veterans Os du Randt, Naka Drotske and Mark Andrews.
Ollie le Roux and Cobus Visagie will most likely be first choice props, with Robbie Kempson and Willie Meyer also named; while Charl Marias and John Smit have been named at hooker.
At lock, Krynauw Otto and Selborne Boome should start against Canada on June 10, with the injured Albert van der Berg likely to be fit for the England games on June 17 and 24.
Braam van Straaten is expected to fill the flyhalf berth vacated by Henry Honiball’s retirement from the international game last year.
Werner Swanepoel has been bracketed with Van der Westhuizen for scrumhalf.
The good Super 12 form of Thinus Delport, Deon Kayser, Robbie Fleck, Japie Mulder, Grant Esterhuizen, De Wet Barry and Koen earned them a call up.
Springbok squad:
Backs: Percy Montgomery, Thinus Delport, Pieter Rossouw, Breyton Paulse, Chester Williams, Deon Kayser, Robbie Fleck, Japie Mulder, Grant Esterhuizen, De Wet Barry, Braam van Straaten, Louis Koen, Joost van der Westhuizen, Werner Swanepoel.
Forwards: Ollie le Roux, Robbie Kempson, Willie Meyer, Cobus Visagie, Charl Marias, John Smit, Krynauw Otto, Albert van der Berg, Selborne Boome, Johan Erasmus, Warren Brosnihan, Corne Krige, Andre Venter, Andre Vos (captain),