Bok door is still open, says coach
SQUAD OF 39 ANNOUNCED FOR TRAINING STINT Faf de Klerk’s fall from grace complete as he again misses out.
Springbok coach Allister Coetzee said there are still “Bok positions up for grabs’’ for next month’s French series. The wheels have been in set in motion for the next phase of the Springbok planning for the French series with yesterday’s announcement of the 39-man squad for the next training camp.
The third camp will take place from Sunday to Tuesday in Johannesburg.
At the conclusion, a squad of 31 players for the series will be announced, as well as the 26-man SA “A” squad for their matches against the French Barbarians.
“We will announce the Springbok and SA “A” squads after the camp and I can honestly say there are still a number of positions up for grabs,” said Bok coach Allister Coetzee.
Four Southern Kings players – Chris Cloete, Andisa Ntsila, Lionel Cronje and Makazole Mapimpi – are among an extended group of players who have been invited.
Significantly the names of Lions centre Harold Vorster, Bulls fullback Warrick Gelant and dynamic Lions wing Courtnall Skosan also appear among the selected names.
But there’s still no room for discarded Lions scrumhalf Faf de Klerk.
While the Cheetahs are still on tour, their players have not been considered while no foreign players in line with regulations from World Rugby have been invited.
“As with the previous two camps, this assembly provides another chance for the coaches to cast the net wide and to have another closer look at certain positions,” explained Coetzee.
The Bok coach said some players who have performed well in Super Rugby had been given recognition.
“There are again some new faces in the wider group who have shown consistently good form during Super Rugby,” said Coetzee.
“The coaches are looking forward to continuing with our preparations with the group. They are knocking hard on the door and will be in contention come squad selection.”
Following next week’s an- nouncement, the Springbok squad will gather in Plettenberg Bay from May 28 to June 4 to continue with preparations for the French series. – Additional reporting by Rudolph Jacobs
Lukhanyo Am, Ruan Botha, Chris Cloete, Andries Coetzee, Lionel Cronje, Ross Cronje, Damian de Allende, Lood de Jager, Ruan Dreyer, Jean-Luc du Preez, Thomas du Toit, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Dewaldt Duvenage, Eben Etzebeth, Warrick Gelant, Lizo Gqoboka, Elton Jantjies, Siya Kolisi, Jaco Kriel, Jesse Kriel, Pat Lambie, Dillyn Leyds, Frans Malherbe, Makazole Mapimpi, Lionel Mapoe, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Tendai Mtawarira, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Andisa Ntsila, Trevor Nyakane, Coenie Oosthuizen, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jan Serfontein, Courtnall Skosan, Jano Vermaak, Harold Vorster, Warren Whiteley.