Category: Springboks

News and discussion about the Springboks

by Rob Cowie | Allister Coetzee believes the Springboks are stronger than they were in 2007, when they won the World Cup in France. ‘There are a lot of guys in that side that know how to play winning rugby, that know how to get to a final. And there are more than enough leaders. Back then we had to develop leaders, whom are now hardened players. As long as all of them play in New Zealand, we should do well.’

While 18 of the 2007 World Cup winners have been retained in the 2011 team, are they as good as they were in 2007? Age seems to have caught up with a lot of them, but in a short once-off tournament surely they can lift themselves for one last hurrah? The biggest difference in class and skill is clearly to be found in the management staff where the 2007 team had a clear advantage, especially in the coaching, psych, space and attack departments. I have a feeling that this is the area where the 2011 tournamnet will be won and lost.

Check out the direct comparisons below. What do you think?

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The Springbok squad to contest the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, was named tonight.

Total caps: 1224 | RWC winners: 18

Forwards:
Willem Alberts, Bakkies Botha, Heinrich Brussow, Schalk Burger, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Francois Louw, Victor Matfield (vc), Tendai Mtawarira, Johann Muller, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Danie Rossouw, John Smit (c), Pierre Spies, Gurthrö Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde.

Backs:
Gio Aplon, Juan De Jongh, Jean De Villiers, Fourie du Preez, Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Butch James, Pat Lambie, Odwa Ndungane, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Francois Steyn, Morné Steyn.

Management
Peter de Villiers (head coach), Gary Gold (assistant coach), Dick Muir (assistant coach), Percy Montgomery (kicking coach), Jacques Nienaber (defence coach/physiotherapist), Malome Maimane (technical analyst), Rassie Erasmus (technical specialist), Neels Liebel (conditioning coach), Dr Derik Coetzee (conditioning coach), Dr Craig Roberts (team doctor), Rene Naylor (physiotherapist), Vivian Verwant (physiotherapist), Daliah Hurwitz (massage therapist), Charles Wessels (logistics manager), Mkiti Malakoane (baggage master), Annelee Murray (PR Manager), Andy Colquhoun (media manager).

Click HERE to view the squads of all competing nations.

Match details

Date: Saturday, August 20
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 17.00 SA (15.00 GMT)
Expected weather: Clear day of sunshine with a high of 20°C
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistants: Andrew Small (England), Carlo Damasco (Italy)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)

Teams

South Africa: 15 Pat Lambie, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 John Smit, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 CJ van der Linde, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Ashley Johnson, 21 François Hougaard, 22 Butch James.

New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Isaia Toeava, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Liam Messam, 7 Adam Thomson, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Samuel Whitelock, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (captain), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Jarrad Hoeata, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Piri Weepu, 22 Cory Jane.

Recent Results

2011: New Zealand won 40-7 at Westpac Stadium, Wellington
2010: New Zealand won 29-22 at National Stadium, Soweto
2010: New Zealand won 31-17 at Westpac Trust, Wellington
2010: New Zealand won 32-12 at Eden Park, Auckland
2009: South Africa won 32-29 at Rugby Park, Hamilton
2009: South Africa won 31-19 at Kings Park Stadium, Durban
2009: South Africa won 28-19 at Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
2008: New Zealand won 19-0 at Newlands
2008: South Africa won 30-28 at Carisbrook, Dunedin
2008: New Zealand won 19-8 at Westpac Trust, Wellington
2007: New Zealand won 33-6 at Jade Stadium, Christchurch
2007: New Zealand won 26-21 at Kings Park Stadium, Durban
2006: South Africa won 21-20 at Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg
2006: New Zealand won 45-26 at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2006: New Zealand won 35-17 at Westpac Trust, Wellington
2005: New Zealand won 31-27 at Carisbrook, Dunedin
2005: South Africa won 22-16 at Newlands

Match details

Date: Saturday 13 August 2011
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17.05 RSA (15.05 GMT)
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (NZ)
Assistants: George Clancy (Ire), Carlo Damasco (Ita)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

Teamsheets

South Africa: 15 Frans Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Danie Rossouw, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 18 Gerhard Mostert, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Morné Steyn, 22 Gio Aplon.

Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O’Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (c), 5 James Horwill, 4 Nathan Sharpe, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Subs: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 Salesi Ma’afu, 18 Sitaleki Timani, 19 Radike Samo, 20 Ben McCalman, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 Anthony Faingaa.

Springbok Squad for Tests versus Australia (August 13) and New Zealand (August 20)

BACKS – Province/Club – Caps

Gio Aplon – DHL Western Province – 14
Frans Steyn – Racing Metro, France – 42
JP Pietersen – The Sharks – 36
Bryan Habana – DHL Western Province – 68
Jaque Fourie – DHL Western Province – 62
Juan de Jongh – DHL Western Province – 8
Jean de Villiers – DHL Western Province – 67
Morne Steyn – Vodacom Blue Bulls – 27
Butch James – MTN Golden Lions – 40
Ruan Pienaar – Ulster, N Ireland – 49
Fourie du Preez – Vodacom Blue Bulls – 55
Francois Hougaard – Vodacom Blue Bulls – 8

FORWARDS

Heinrich Brussow – Free State – 13
Pierre Spies – Vodacom Blue Bulls – 40
Jean Deysel – The Sharks – 3
Danie Rossouw – Vodacom Blue Bulls – 56
Bakkies Botha – Vodacom Blue Bulls – 72
Victor Matfield – Vodacom Blue Bulls – 105
Gerhard Mostert – Stade Francais, France – 1
John Smit (captain) – The Sharks – 104
Bismarck du Plessis – The Sharks – 36
Tendai Mtawarira – The Sharks – 26
Jannie du Plessis – The Sharks – 24
Gurthrö Steenkamp – Vodacom Blue Bulls – 31
CJ van der Linde – MTN Golden Lions – 71

Players not considered for selection due to injury were: Schalk Burger (hand), Juan Smith (Achilles), Andries Bekker (ankle), Willem Alberts (shoulder), Johann Muller (hamstring) and Duane Vermeulen (knee).

Provisional fixture dates have been decided for the 2012 Springbok season which is set to include an incoming tour by England in the middle of the Super 15, the newly expanded Four Nations tournament featuring Argentina, and the annual End of Year Tour to Europe. Fixtures and calendar downloads will be provided once the dates and times have been finalised.

2012 Incoming Tour by England

09 June – Springboks v England
16 June – Springboks v England
23 June – Springboks v England

2012 Four Nations (Two games per weekend)

18 August – Springboks | All Blacks | Wallabies | Argentina
25 August – Springboks | All Blacks | Wallabies | Argentina
01 September – Springboks | All Blacks | Wallabies | Argentina
08 September – Springboks | All Blacks | Wallabies | Argentina
15 September – Springboks | All Blacks | Wallabies | Argentina
22 September – Springboks | All Blacks | Wallabies | Argentina
29 September – Springboks | All Blacks | Wallabies | Argentina
06 October – Springboks | All Blacks | Wallabies | Argentina

2012 Outgoing Tour of Europe

10 November – France v Springboks
17 November – Scotland v Springboks
24 November – England v Springboks

» Tri Nations Round 1 predictions

Match details
Date: Saturday 23 July 2011
Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 20.00 AUS | 10.00 GMT | 12:00 RSA
Referee: Chris Pollock (NZ)
Assistant refs: Keith Brown (NZ), Vinny Munro (NZ)
TMO: Matt Goddard (AUS)

Teamsheets
South Africa 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Juan De Jongh, 12 Wynand Oliver, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Danie Rossouw, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Johann Muller, 4 Flip Van Der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ Van Der Linde, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Adrian Jacobs, 22 Patrick Lambie.

Australia 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O’Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 James Horwill, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga’a, 17 Pekahou Cowan, 18 Nathan Sharpe, 19 Matt Hodgson, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Anthony Fainga’a.

httpv://youtu.be/wIEeddJwVj8

In 1985, a planned All Black tour of South Africa was stopped by the New Zealand High Court. A rebel tour took place the next year by a team known as the Cavaliers. The team was not sanctioned by the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, yet consisted of all but two of the original squad that had been selected. For some of the tests, the team was advertised, inside South Africa as the All Blacks whilst at the others they were advertised as the New Zealand Cavaliers. The Springboks won the series 3–1.

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View the FINAL Springbok 2011 World Cup squad HERE

Bok fans had just started to think that maybe Peter de Villiers was on the right track when he omitted the 11th best scrumhalf in the country from his Durban-based World Cup planning squad. The relief was short-lived as Ricky Januarie has once again been included in the Bok World Cup plans. The preliminary Springbok World Cup squad of 49 includes six uncapped players.

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