Whiteley ‘the obvious choice’
TELLS WIFE FIRST: LIONS CAPTAIN GETS CALL FROM BOK COACH ‘Warren has walked the walk and he will be the glue to stick the team together.’
The appointment of Lions skipper Warren Whiteley yesterday as the new Springbok captain for next month’s French series was a “logical” choice for national coach Allister Coetzee. The 29-year-old Whiteley, who has played 15 Tests, was named as the 58th Bok skipper, replacing Adriaan Strauss, who retired at the end of last year.
“What people don’t often realise is that Warren was already captain last year when Adriaan wasn’t on the field,” said Coetzee.
“Warren has walked the walk and he will be the glue to stick the team together with the aid of the experienced members in the side. The Bok captain always faces a bigger challenge because we live in a unique country with unique challenges. That’s the type of person Warren is because he walked a long road. He has resilience and can dig deep.”
An ecstatic Whiteley said that after Coetzee informed him on Monday night of his decision, he first had to break the news to his wife, Felicity.
“Coach said I must just go home and chat to my wife in my own time but I kind of kept it to myself. With the little one running around there’s not really any chance. So I put [TV show] Peppa Pig on and let her watch that to get my wife’s attention. I told her coach had asked me. She was quite shocked but we were just really grateful.” Whiteley said he wouldn’t have become the new skipper had it not been for the success he achieved with the Lions. “It’s a stepping stone I believe, I don’t think this would have materialised if I hadn’t been there and been so successful the last couple of years,” said Whiteley. “Lot of players and management to thank. None of this would have happened just by myself.”
Springbok coach Allister Coetzee conceded they might be faced with a flyhalf crisis ahead of the French Test series next month. The Lions Elton Jantjies was named as the only flyhalf in the 31man squad yesterday, but Coetzee said the recall of veteran Frans Steyn will alleviate that problem.
“In rugby you sometimes have a crisis and we have one at flyhalf,” said Coetzee. “Both Stormers flyhalves – Jean-Luc du Plessis and Rob du Preez – are out and obviously also Handre Pollard and Pat Lambie.”
Steyn, who plays for French side Montpellier and was a member of the 2007 Rugby World Cup winning squad, last featured in a Springbok Test in 2012.
“So that’s where a player like Frans Steyn will add value. He’s been there and done that and was monitored very closely in the French league,” said Coetzee.
“And he has played 10 and 12 for Montpelier. A guy like Curwin Bosch must go to the Under-20 tournament and have another good season, but he remains an option for the third Test.”
Coetzee also said he will consider Duane Vermeulen only as a blindside with the appointment of Lions No 8 Warren Whiteley as the new skipper.
“I had numerous chats with Duane and in terms of the leadership they complement each other very well.
“So it will be a great combination to have both in the side, and Duane plays like a blindside flanker,” said Coetzee.
Only four overseas players have been included in Steyn, Vermeulen, Francois Hougaard and Steven Kitshoff, while other experienced players like Jan Serfontein, Coenie Oosthuizen and Chiliboy Ralepelle have been recalled.
Of the eight uncapped players in the squad, six are backs and two play in the forwards – Lukhanyo Am, Andries Coetzee, Ross Cronje, Dillyn Leyds, Raymond Rhule, Courtnall Skosan, Ruan Dreyer and Lizo Gqoboka.
“I have said I will reward form and Ross Cronje has been a constant performer at No 9,” said Coetzee.
“And when you look at the fullbacks there were maybe SP Marais and Clayton Blommetjies, but if you look at consistent performances, and not just this year but over a long period of time, Andries Coetzee is the answer for me there.”
The 31-man squad will assemble on Monday, May 29 for a weeklong camp in Plettenberg Bay before moving camp to Pretoria where they will fine-tune final preparations for the first Test.
Meanwhile, experienced Springboks Trevor Nyakane, Ruan Combrinck, Juan de Jongh and Lionel Mapoe will lead the charge for the SA ‘A’ team when they face the French Barbarians in two matches in Durban and Soweto next month.