All in all, the latest Springbok squad is not the worst, but there are certainly one or two selections that make no sense, says iafrica.com’s Rob Peters.

The bulk of the Springbok squad revealed on Saturday evening cannot be argued with. The mainstays are there — as they should be — while a number of players who put their hands up during the Currie Cup have been rewarded for their form. They are unlikely to see any Test action, but rather they will be used in the midweek matches on tour and that is a smart move.

There is always going to be unhappiness. Not everybody can be chosen and chances are one of your favourites for selection will be watching the November tour in the same way as the rest of us — on the TV.

Juan de Jongh, Riaan Viljoen, Dewald Potgieter and Meyer Bosman have all enjoyed great form throughout the season. De Jongh is a gem on attack, while his lack of size does not stop him driving opponents back in defence. Viljoen has a cannon for a boot and is a constant threat on attack, while the loss of Frans Steyn to France (for now) opens the door for the Griquas fullback. Potgieter is yet another loose forward ready to stamp is mark on international rugby, while Bosman has been knocking on the door for a recall for some time now.

Rose-tinted glasses

That said, I am struggling to understand the inclusion of Bandise Maku, Heinke van der Merwe (as a tighthead), Davon Raubenheimer, Ashley Johnson, Alistair Hargreaves and Earl Rose.

Maku looks a solid player, but he has seen little game time at the Bulls and there are far better options available to the squad — Tiaan Liebenberg is one player that comes to mind. Van der Merwe has been injured and it not a tighthead... he should not be chosen as one. WP’s Nel is a better option. Raubenheimer has done nothing to show that he is a better loose forward than any one of the many, many loose forwards at WP and the Sharks. Ahsley Johnson has done well this year, but not well enough to qualify for international rugby. Hargreaves has potential, but why has Stephen Sykes suddenly fallen off the radar?

And Rose? De Villiers is clearly a fan, but he seems to be mostly alone on that front. I have yet to meet anybody who believes Rose is — or ever will be — ready to play Test rugby. But De Villiers has yet to throw the Lions utility into the cauldron despite picking him for two seasons running.

Perhaps it would be best to do it now. If he fails, bring on another player to pick up the pieces. If he does well, then we will all be proven wrong. I honestly can’t see the latter scenario playing out though. Rose is a limited player, capable of doing great things, but they are few and far between.

If there is one player who does not deserve his place in the squad it is Rose. That’s just my opinion, but I would be willing to bet good money that I am not alone.

Springbok squad (Test caps in brackets):

Forwards (20): John Smit (Sharks, captain - 90), Victor Matfield (Blue Bulls, vice-captain - 89), Andries Bekker (Western Province - 18), Bakkies Botha (Blue Bulls - 63), Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs - 10), Schalk Burger – Western Province - 53), Bismarck du Plessis (Natal Sharks - 30), Jannie du Plessis (Natal Sharks - 12), Alistair Hargreaves (Natal Sharks - 0), Ashley Johnson (Cheetahs - 0), Ryan Kankowski (Natal Sharks - 10), Bandise Maku (Blue Bulls - 0), Tendai Mtawarira (Natal Sharks - 19), Dewald Potgieter (Blue Bulls - 0), Chiliboy Ralepelle (Blue Bulls - 8), Davon Raubenheimer – Griquas - 0), Danie Rossouw (Blue Bulls - 43), Pierre Spies (Blue Bulls - 28), Gurthrö Steenkamp (Blue Bulls - 22), Heinke van der Merwe (Lions - 1).

Backs (17): Heini Adams – Blue Bulls - 0), Meyer Bosman (Cheetahs - 3), Juan de Jongh (Western Province - 0), Fourie du Preez (Blue Bulls - 52), Jaque Fourie (Lions - 51), Bryan Habana (Blue Bulls - 54), Francois Hougaard (Blue Bulls - 0), Adi Jacobs (Natal Sharks - 28), Zane Kirchner (Blue Bulls - 1), Odwa Ndungane (Natal Sharks - 6), Jongi Nokwe (Cheetahs - 4), Wynand Olivier (Blue Bulls - 24), Ruan Pienaar (Natal Sharks - 35), JP Pietersen (Natal Sharks - 30), Earl Rose (Lions - 0), Morné Steyn (Blue Bulls - 9), Riaan Viljoen – Griquas - 0).

  • Do you agree with Rob? Would you pick Rose in your Springbok squad? Leave your comments below!


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