Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli would have been heartened by the glut of talent he saw at national team trials on Sunday, which saw captain Bob Skinstad’s team triumph 57-48 over an outfit led by Corne Krige.
Straeuli will announce the first Springbok team of his tenure on Tuesday, ahead of a two-test home series against Wales next month.
Seventeen tries were scored in Sunday’s match, as the players warmed to their task with gusto and creativity. While Springbok rugby has been hit by an exodus this season as experienced players leave for the richer pickings of the European club circuit, enough experienced players remain for Straeuli to put together a battle-hardened outfit.
Skinstad played his first full match since returning from shoulder surgery at the end of last season, and probably did enough for Straeuli to retain his services as captain.
Several of the younger players also looked impressive, most notably flyhalves Andre Pretorius and Brent Russell, the South African Sevens player, who many have classed as too small for the 15-man game.
Russel tore the opposition defence to shreds with some brilliant breaks, and set up a welter of second-half tries for his team mates with some breathtaking passing, sidestepping and half-breaks into space. With some work on his kicking, he will be difficult to keep out of the Springbok team.
Also encouraging was the maturity of flanker Joe van Niekerk, who was plucked from relative obscurity by the previous Springbok coach Harry Viljoen into international ranks last season. He has turned into a consummate ballplayer who can link well with the speedy backline players.
Possible squad
Conrad Jantjes, Breyton Paulse, Marius Joubert, De Wet Barry, Friedrich Lombard, Andre Pretorius, Johannes Conradie, Bob Skinstad, Joe van Niekerk, Corne Krige, Victor Matfield, Hottie Louw, Willie Meyer, James Dalton, Lawrence Sephaka. Replacements: Craig Davidson, Brent Russell, Ricardo Loubscher, Delarey du Preez, AJ Venter, Warren Britz, Cobus Visagie. – Sapa-AP