Rudolf Straeuli’s 30-man Springbok squad included a couple of shocks when the team was revealed at an extravagant function held at the Tukkies Sports Ground in Pretoria on Saturday.
Four new caps were included, while the notable omissions were pocket-rocket Brent Russell, flyhalf Andre Pretorius and fullback Jaco van der Westhuyzen.
”The hard work starts now and we go straight back into training tomorrow,” said Straeuli. ”We have a few exciting new talents that I think could make a difference for us at the World Cup, while those injured players can be brought in once fit if one of these guys picks up an injury.”
Russell’s exclusion is due to a knee injury, but Pretorius and Van der Westhuyzen lost their places to the Blue Bulls’ Derick Hougaard and the Sharks’ Ricardo Loubscher respectively.
Among the backs, number 10 Hougaard and young Lions utility back Jacques Fourie get their chance while up front, South African under-21 captain Schalk Burger and Blue Bulls lock Danie Rossouw will earn their first caps to complete the new quartet.
”It has been a dream for me to play for the Springboks, but the graft starts now,” said Hougaard. ”The pressure is always on, but I will do everything in my power to not let the public down.”
Burger is rewarded for some tremendous displays for both Western Province and the Baby Boks and has the chance to finally put to bed his ongoing rivalry with the Sharks’ Luke Watson.
”I’m definitely surprised to be in, but I think my dad is a very proud man tonight,” he said of his namesake who also played for the Springboks.
”It was a big thing to get in, but now it’s about contributing to the cause.”
Burger admitted that the match against England in Perth on October 18 was a focus for the team.
”We want to win all our pool games, but especially against England and if we pull that off it gives us a nice passage in the play-offs,” said the blonde flanker.
Fourie, meanwhile, was ecstatic at his elevation to the World Cup squad. ”I think my match against SWD was the turning point, but I worked so hard to get back in after my injury. I just can’t believe I’m here, though,” said the speedy Lions utility back.
”There will be pressure on us young guys at the World Cup, but I certainly believe I can handle it and I’m confident they will too,” explained Fourie.
Western Province and Stormers flanker Corne Krige will captain the team as they attempt to bring the William Webb Ellis trophy back to South Africa.
The two Springbok locks at the centre of an alleged racism row, Geo Cronje and Quinton Davids, were both excluded, but it is doubtful that South Africa’s rugby public has heard the last of that incident.
Blue Bulls lock Danie Rossouw was the beneficiary of the alleged friction between the former room-mates as Straeuli strives to ensure harmony in an allegedly divided squad.
Rossouw has hardly played at Super 12 level in the past two years although his form for the Currie Cup champions has been impressive.
Former Springbok captain Bob Skinstad also missed out after a severe loss of form this season and finally a broken arm ruled him out of contention.
Six players of colour are included in the squad, falling short of the promised 10 for this World Cup, although it was more a gentleman’s agreement than a quota system set in stone.
Out of the 30 players selected to carry the hopes of a nation down under, seven players have not had Test experience this season, an indication of the injury crisis that has blighted the Boks’ season. — Sapa
Springbok World Cup squad:
Backs: De Wet Barry, Gcobani Bobo, Thinus Delport, Neil de Kock, Jacque Fourie, Werner Greeff, Derick Hougaard, Louis Koen, Ricardo Loubscher, Stefan Terblanche, Jorrie Muller, Breyton Paulse, Joost van der Westhuizen, Ashwin Willemse.
Forwards: Richard Bands, Christo Bezuidenhout, Selborne Boome, Bakkies Botha, Danie Coetzee, Corne Krige (captain), Victor Matfield, Faan Rautenbach, Danie Rossouw, Dale Santon, Schalk Burger, John Smit, Juan Smith, Lawrence Sephaka, Joe van Niekerk.