South Africa’s national selectors have stayed true to their word and named a predictable and experienced squad of 30 players to feature at this year’s World Cup tournament.
National coach Jake White named 14 backs and 16 forwards with the squad being a good blend of youth and experience.
Loose forward Bob Skinstad, who’d given up the game in South Africa in 2003 and only returned to action for the Coastal Sharks in this season’s Super 14 championship, is the big winner in the squad.
Skinstad spent the last four years in England where he played a minor role with the Richmond club. He was heavily involved in television work but was lured back to the country of his birth by White during last season’s Bok tour of Ireland and England.
The other player who snuck into the squad at the last minute was flanker Wikus van Heerden, a star performer in the weakened Bok side during the recent away leg of the Tri-Nations rugby series.
White also included injured Lions flyhalf Andre Pretorius in his squad, ahead of Northern Bulls number 10, Derick Hougaard. Pretorius has played no rugby since the latter stages of the Super 14 competition. He is recovering from a buttock muscle injury.
Somewhat surprisingly the selectors opted for only two hookers, captain John Smit and Gary Botha, while there are three scrumhalves in Fourie du Preez, Ruan Pienaar and Ricky Januarie.
Also selected in the France-bound team is veteran loosehead prop Os du Randt as well as winger Ashwin Willemse, who only returned to rugby in the latter stages of the Super 14 competition, which ended in May, after sitting on the sidelines for two years nursing knee, ankle and hamstring injuries.
There was place for only six black players — Willemse, Bryan Habana, Akona Ndungane, JP Pietersen, Ricky Januarie and Gurthro Steenkamp.
”It’s an exciting mix of players many of whom have been together since I started my career as head coach of the Springboks,” said White.
”I have great confidence in these players. They will carry the flag for the nation during the tournament with pride.”
South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins said: ”Once the tournament starts, the whole nation will be looking up to these fine young South Africans to reflect a proud history of rugby excellence that has come to be associated with the Springboks.
”The players leave our shores with our blessings and good wishes. It’s a proud moment, not only for the players and their families, but also for all our supporters, in South Africa and abroad.”
The Springboks open their World Cup challenge on September 9 against Samoa, with further matches against England, the United States and Tonga. – Sapa-AFP