Snyman set for big role at Bok camp
• Preparations for Test season up a notch with Munster lock included after starring in URC final
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named 10 players who featured in the United Rugby Championship (URC) final in his group of 33 for a preparation camp in Durban from Monday to Wednesday.
Nine Stormers players cracked the nod and so did Munster’s RG Snyman, who is set for a more active role after protracted battles with injuries.
Snyman was colossal after he came onto the field as a replacement in Saturday’s URC final against the Stormers at Cape Town Stadium.
“He’s unbelievable to have around the squad,” his Munster teammate Tadhg Beirne said. “For a man who has been incredibly unlucky with injuries he is the most positive person I’ve come across.
“Since he’s been back he’s brought his experience and brash and incredible physicality. The skill level he has and understanding for the game is second to none. He’s world-class. We are very lucky to have him in our squad,” said Beirne.
Ulster No 8 Duane Vermeulen was also roped in as were Japan-based hooker Malcolm Marx, loose forward Kwagga Smith, lock Lood de Jager, utility forward Franco Mostert and centre Damian de Allende.
The Stormers’ contingent includes halfbacks Herschel Jantjies and Manie Libbok.
All 33 players have been part of the national squad in the past two seasons. As was the case with the last camp, injured Springbok captain and flanker Siya Kolisi, lock Eben Etzebeth, scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse and prop Thomas du Toit will be in attendance. The Bok medical team will continue to monitor their progress and oversee their rehabilitation.
The squad are more than double the size of the training squad that participated in the first preparation camp in Durban a little more than a week ago.
“We are delighted to have a quality training squad at this camp. The squad size will allow us to have productive on-field training sessions without having to rotate and manage players too much,” Nienaber said.
Significantly, the 33-man group, in size and more or less in makeup, reflects the squad that will travel to the World Cup in France later in 2023.
“We had a strong core of the players at the last preparation camp, and we intend to build on the foundation we laid there when we assemble in Durban, and I believe this will set us in good stead going into the Rugby Championship camp in Pretoria next month,” Nienaber said.
“This will mark the first time most of the players will be in the national set-up this season, as the alignment camps in Cape Town and Stellenbosch and the last preparation camp in Durban included mainly the locally based players.
“We did, however, have online alignment sessions with the overseas-based players, so we are excited about this opportunity to work with them in person,” Nienaber said.
The Boks will begin their preparations for the Rugby Championship at a training camp in Pretoria from Monday June 12 to Friday June 30. The team slots into match mode the following week for their opening Test against Australia at Loftus Versfeld on July 8.
Nienaber’s charges then depart for New Zealand for their second Test in the condensed version of the competition against the All Blacks at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland (July 15), before returning to SA for their closing match against Argentina in Johannesburg two weeks later.
The Springboks play three World Cup warm-up matches against Argentina in Buenos Aires (August 5), Wales in Cardiff (August 19) and New Zealand in London (August 25).
They then make their way to France for the World Cup where they face Scotland in Marseille (September 10), Romania in Bordeaux (September 17), Ireland in Paris (September 23) and Tonga in Marseille (October 1) during the pool stages.