FAF GIVEN COLD SHOULDER
NOT WANTED: LIONS SCRUMHALF DE KLERK MISSES OUT ON BOK CAMP
Curwin Bosch given just reward for fine performances.
The national selectors dropped a minor bombshell yesterday by excluding Lions scrumhalf Faf de Klerk from the next Springbok training camp in Stellenbosch.
Altogether 41 names were released, including 13 players from the Sharks, 10 each from the Lions and the Stormers while eight Cheetahs players have been invited.
De Klerk was the first-choice No 9 in most of his 11 Tests last year and has been in sublime form following a slow start to his sea- son which makes his absence that much more puzzling.
Instead Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has invited No 9s Shaun Venter from the Cheetahs, the Sharks’ Cobus Reinach, who is headed to Northampton after Super Rugby, and the Stormers veteran Jano Vermaak.
Exciting inclusions are the Sharks flyhalf/fullback Curwin Bosch and the Stormers’ EW Viljoen who will form part of five young guns invited.
The Bulls and Kings players were not considered because they will be overseas at the time of the second training camp, from April 2-4.
“The camp provides another opportunity for us to cast the net wider and also to have a closer look at certain positions,” said Coetzee.
There are some interesting call-ups, most notably young Lions flanker Ruan Ackermann, Sharks centre Luhhanyo Am, Cheetahs No 10 Fred Zeilinga and the almost forgotten Bok, veteran Sharks hooker Chiliboy Ralepele.
“There are a couple of new faces in this group who have shown consistently good form,” said Coetzee.
“I also want to thank our franchise and conditioning coaches for their continued collaboration and support.”
Lock Franco Mostert is not available for this camp as his wife is due to give birth to their first child.
Injured Boks Pat Lambie, Uzair Cassiem and Ruan Combrinck have been invited to the camp, but other injured players such as Damian de Allende and Jean-Luc du Plessis (both Stormers), who made the trip to the previous camp in Johannesburg, are not required to do so again.