Petersen in squad to face Barbarians in UK

THE uncapped Free State Cheetahs duo of former Grey High wing Sergeal Petersen and centre Francois Venter have been included in two Springbok squads for the November tour to Britain and Italy.

Sharks’ loose forward Jean-Luc du Plessis and Bulls’ openside Roelf Smit are also in the squads, together with eight other uncapped players included only in the squad for the match against the Barbarians at Wembley.

But the most glaring omission was that of No 8 Duane Vermeulen.

According to coach Allister Coetzee‚ the Toulon player felt he was not in good enough physical condition for test rugby after a lengthy layoff.

Vermeulen has been playing club rugby for the past three weeks.

Veteran flyhalf Morne Steyn has been axed while Francois Hougaard‚ Francois Louw and Juan de Jongh miss the tour through injury.

Coetzee appears to have conceded that wing JP Pietersen’s experience and size are needed at test level by recalling the veteran for the test portion of the tour after having omitted him during the Rugby Championship.

Lions’ wing Ruan Combrinck is over a leg injury and has also been included in the squad.

Tighthead Jannie du Plessis is unsurprisingly recalled with both Julian Redelinghuys and Frans Malherbe out injured.

Coetzee named two separate squads – one of 30 for the Barbarians – and the other of 33 players for three tests against England‚ Italy and Wales. There are 12 uncapped players. They are Lizo Gqoboka (Blue Bulls)‚ Thomas du Toit (Sharks)‚ RG Snyman (Blue Bulls)‚ Roelof Smit (Blue Bulls)‚ Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks)‚ Uzair Cassiem (Free State Cheetahs)‚ Tian Schoeman (Blue Bulls)‚ Francois Venter (Free State Cheetahs)‚ Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Golden Lions)‚ Sergeal Petersen (Free State Cheetahs)‚ Jamba Ulengo (Blue Bulls) and Cheslin Kolbe (Western Province).

Of these, Gqoboka‚ Du Toit‚ Snyman‚ Du Preez‚ Venter and Petersen featured for the SA A team against the touring England Saxons in June.

“It is great to have such a big group of young‚ exciting players with us for the Barbarians match‚” Coetzee said.

“I view this as a great opportunity to start building for the future.

“The selection of many of these players is part of our road map for 2019.”

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SOUTH Africa play the Barbarians at Wembley Stadium in London on November 5, England at Twickenham in London on November 12, Italy in Florence on November 19 and Wales in Cardiff on November 26.

The touring squads are: Versus Barbarians Forwards (17): Lourens Adriaanse, Nizaam Carr, Uzair Cassiem, Eben Etzebeth, Lizo Gqoboka, Lood de Jager, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Oupa Mohoje, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Jean-Luc du Preez, Roelof Smit, RG Snyman, Adriaan Strauss (capt), PieterSteph du Toit, Thomas du Toit Backs (13): Damian de Allende, Ruan Combrinck, Faf de Klerk, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Patrick Lambie, Rudy Paige, Sergeal Petersen, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Tian Schoeman, Jamba Ulengo, Francois Venter, Piet van Zyl Note: no foreign-based players available for Barbarians match Versus England, Italy and Wales Forwards (18): Willem Alberts, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Jaco Kriel, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Oupa Mohoje, Franco Mostert, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Jannie du Plessis, Jean-Luc du Preez, Roelof Smit, Adriaan Strauss (capt), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Warren Whiteley Backs (15): Damian de Allende, Ruan Combrinck, Faf de Klerk, Johan Goosen, Bryan Habana, Elton Jantjies, Jesse Kriel, Patrick Lambie, Lionel Mapoe, Rudy Paige, Sergeal Petersen, JP Pietersen, Willie le Roux, Francois Venter, Piet van Zyl. Coach: Allister Coetzee