Springbok coach Jake White kept to his promise of not cheaply rewarding Bok caps when he named his extended 45-man squad in Cape Town on Saturday.
White, though, has kept loyal to his core squad from last season and has only named five new caps, which include Sharks scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar, in-form Sharks prop BJ Botha and lock Johan Muller.
Promising Bulls centre Wynand Olivier was also an expected
choice for White, with Stormers lock Andries Bekker the fifth and final new cap in the squad.
”South Africa is truly blessed with an abundance of rugby talent and the selectors are in a fortunate position to be able to choose from such a considerable pool of players.
”Our collective dedication to a system of continuity and consistency has delivered a good measure of positive results and the challenge would always be to improve on that. I want to stress, however, that the door to Springbok colours will never be closed to any player,” said White.
Bulls prop Guthro Steenkamp and Cats winger Ashwin Willemse were not considered for selection owing to injury.
White has recalled Cats prop Lawrence Sephaka and also opted to keep Solly Tyibilika, who has made little contribution to the Sharks’ surprising surge in the Super 14.
Bulls flanker Tim Dlulane was a surprise omission from White’s forward pack after he put up a strong performance in the latter stages of the Super 14.
Another exclusion is that of Bulls 19-year-old star hooker
Chilliboy Ralepelle, who White publicly stated could be in his World Cup squad for 2007 in France.
In the backline, White has recalled Sharks flyhalf Butch James who made a cameo appearance for his team in this year’s Super 14competition.
Along with James, White has also handed Cheetahs utility back Gaffie du Toit an international life-line, with Andre Snyman also making a return to the Bok squad after playing his club rugby in England in the past few seasons.
The squad will assemble in Bloemfontein on Wednesday, with the exception of the Bulls players who will be preparing for their Super 14 semifinal clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.
Squad:
Forwards:
BJ Botha, Eddie Andrews, Andries Bekker, Gary Botha, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger, Deon Carstens, Danie Coetzee, Jacques Cronje, Os Du Randt, Victor Matfield, Johann Muller, Danie Rossouw, Lawrence Sephaka, Hanyani Shimange, John Smit (Capt), Juan Smith, Solomzi Tyibilika, Albert van den Bergh, CJ van der Linde, Wikus van Heerden, Joe van Niekerk, AJ Venter, Pedrie Wannenburg.
Backs:
De Wet Barry, Meyer Bosman, Tonderai Chavanga, Bolla Conradie, Fourie du Preez, Jean de Villiers, Gaffie du Toit, Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Enrico Januarie, Marius Joubert, Wayne Julies, Percy Montgomery, Wynand Olivier, Breyton Paulse, Ruan Pienaar, Andre Pretorius, Brent Russell, Andre Snyman, Jaco van der
Westhuyzen.