Whiteley return a boost for Boks
TO AVENGE DEFEATS AGAINST WALES AND ITALY Non-contracted national players set to play in Currie Cup.
Inspirational No 8 Warren Whiteley’s long-awaited return as captain will serve as an additional boost ahead of the Springbok end-of-year tour to Britain and Europe next month.
The Boks are due to play Tests on November 11 against Ireland, followed by clashes against France, Italy and Wales.
It will be an opportunity for the Boks to avenge the defeat by Wales and the shocker to Italy suffered during the disastrous tour of last November.
However, the Test against Wales is scheduled for December 2 which falls outside the international window which could make overseas players like flank Francois Louw, Duane Vermeulen and centre Frans Steyn ineligible for selection.
There is also uncertainty about centre Jan Serfontein who is apparently headed for France.
Louw was the only foreign-based player in Saturday’s All Blacks Test, but others like flyhalf Elton Jantjies and lock Franco Mostert would be expected to return to their Japan clubs.
Whiteley’s return, however, will be a big plus. He was last in action in the second French Test in June before a groin injury ruled him out of the last seven Bok Test matches.
Lock Eben Etzebeth was a great substitute as skipper, but he was injured during the latter stages of last weekend’s clash against New Zealand in Cape Town and the nature and severity of his injury must still be determined.
It will, however, give coach Allister Coetzee the ideal opportunity to include players such as wing S’bu Nkosi, flyhalf Curwin Bosch, fullback Warrick Gelant and centre Lukhanyo Am.
All non-contracted Boks will be allowed to play Currie Cup according to an earlier agreement, said Bok media spokesman Rayaan Adriaanse yesterday.
It will include players who have had limited game time such as flyhalf Handre Pollard, who is a contracted player, prop forwards Wilco Louw and Trevor Nyakane, hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle, No 8 Dan du Preez, scrumhalves Rudy Paige and Louis Schreuder and centre Damian de Allende.
Props Tendai Mtawarira and Coenie Oosthuizen will return after not being available due to compassionate leave and a broken arm respectively.
With the touring party of 30 to 32 players due to be announced over the next few weeks, the Boks will be without injured players such as flank Jaco Kriel, wing Ruan Combrinck and prop Frans Malherbe.