There were few surprises but one or two shocks as Springbok coach Jake White named an extended 33-man squad to tour the United Kingdom, Ireland and Argentina next month.
While White kept to the winning formula which gave South Africa its second Tri Nations title earlier this year, he handed six new caps out and became the first national coach to choose 10 players of colour in his side.
All 27 players who were ”in the mix” for the Tri Nations have been retained, but White shocked with the inclusion of little known 22-year old winger Jonghikaya Nokwe from Boland and the Pumas Tim Dlulane in his squad.
Nokwe, who is generally accepted as the fastest winger in the country, will join a side which has to play five consecutive test matches on two continents.
There were also call ups for Free State strongman Guthro Steenkamp and scrumhalf Michael Claassen, as well as Bryan Habana and Solly Tybilika.
The team included five players from the Blue Bulls squad which added a third Currie Cup trophy to their impressive mantlepiece on Saturday.
Two players — Western Province flyhalf Werner Greeff and Bulls hooker Danie Coetzee — were placed on standby for the squad, and therefore were not selected for the South African A squad, which was also announced on Saturday.
The selectors did not consider four players because of injury. They were Western Province lock Quinton Davids, scrumhalves Neil de Kock and Bolla Conradie and the Golden Lions, Enrico Januarie.
”It’s always going to be difficult to choose a side for a tour such as this, but we decided that we are going to show consistency with our selection and we will look after the players that won the Tri Nations for us earlier this year,” White said.
The squad didn’t include two of the most impressive players in this year’s Currie Cup — Blue Bulls hooker Gary Botha and midfielder Ettienne Botha — the latter who scored a magnificent try in his side’s 42-33 victory at Loftus Versfeld.
”They both played well but we already have five centres on tour and its more a decision on keeping them going.”
Nokwe is a great prospect for the future, according to the national coach.
”He is loaded with pace and does 40 metres in 4,8 seconds. One of the things we have been looking at is to ensure that we have pace out wide and by bringing in Jongi and Bryan Habana we will hopefully help that out.”
The team will assemble this week in Johannesburg before heading to Wales on November 2.
Forwards: John Smit (c), Eddie Andrews, Bakkies Botha, Gerrie Britz, Schalk Burger, Jacques Cronje, Tim Dlulane, Os du Randt, Victor Matfield, Danie Rossouw, Solly Tyibilika, Hanyani Shimange, Juan Smith, Guthro Steenkamp, CJ van
der Linde, Joe van Niekerk, AJ Venter. Backs: De Wet Barry, Gcobani Bobo, Michael Claassen, Jean de Villiers, Fourie du Preez, Gaffie du Toit, Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana, Marius Joubert, Wayne Julies, Percy Montgomery, Jongi Nokwe, Breyton Paulse, Brent Russell, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Ashwin Willemse. – Sapa