Cats’s wing Ashwin Willemse will replace the injured Pieter Rossouw in the Springbok squad.
Willemse, uncapped and still only 21 years old, is rewarded for his form in the 2003 Vodacom Super 12.
Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli said Willemse was one of an exciting breed of emerging young players.
”Ideally, I would have wanted more experience in the wing position and it was among my motivations in selecting the likes of Stefan Terblanche and Pieter Rossouw. However, injuries have forced a rethink and Ashwin is deserving of a squad inclusion based on this year’s form,” said Straeuli, who said the claims of Anton Pitout and Conrad Jantjes were also considered.
”Both Ashwin and Anton enjoyed good Super 12s. The latter must just keep on working and for the former the squad inclusion represents an opportunity. I am pleased Conrad (Jantjes) got game time with the Barbarians in their win against Scotland on Wednesday evening. He will link up with Chester Williams’s Sevens squad and will play for the SA ‘A’ team against Argentina.
We have a plan in place for all the players in the Bok squad, the rehabilitation squad and the SA ‘A’ squad.”
Willemse was one of the stars of the 2002 SA under 21 World Cup winning squad. He was selected in the tournament’s World XV and also excelled in the SA Sevens squad during 2001 and 2002. – Sapa