The squad also includes five players who have been recalled whilst the balance of 23 players is the bulk of the squad that won the 2009 Vodacom Tri-Nations tournament.
The tour includes Test matches against France, Italy and Ireland as well as two midweek matches, against English Premiership teams Leicester and Saracens.
The newcomers are: Vodacom Western Province centre Juan de Jongh, Sharks lock Alistair Hargreaves, Vodacom Free State Cheetahs eighthman Ashley Johnson, the Vodacom Blue Bulls’ hooker Bandise Maku, scrumhalf Heini Adams, flanker Dewald Potgieter and utility back Francois Hougaard; and the GWK Griquas duo of flank Davon Raubenheimer and fullback Riaan Viljoen.
Those recalled are Vodacom Blue Bulls fullback Zane Kirchner and Vodacom Cheetahs wing Jongi Nokwe, who both played in the third Test against the British & Irish Lions in July but were excluded from the Tri-Nations squad, Vodacom Free State Cheetahs centre Meyer Bosman, who was in the SA XV that faced Namibia in May and last played a Test in 2006, Xerox Lions fullback Earl Rose, who toured Europe in 2008 and also featured in the Namibia match, and Xerox Lions prop Heinke van der Merwe, who played one Test match in 2007.
Vodacom Western Province lock Andries Bekker and Sharks wing JP Pietersen, who were injured during the Vodacom Tri-Nations away leg, both return to the squad. The five players who are not included from the group of 28 that did duty during the Tri-Nations are Vodacom Free State flank Juan Smith, who was not considered due to injury, Jean de Villiers and Frans Steyn, who are playing for clubs in Ireland and France respectively, Vodacom Western Province scrumhalf Ricky Januarie and Sharks lock Johann Muller, who was called to replace the injured Bekker towards the end of the Vodacom Tri-Nations away campaign.
Nineteen of the squad were involved in the Absa Currie Cup final on Saturday.
Commenting on the selection, Springbok coach Peter de Villiers said: “We will go on tour with a strong core of players who have reached great heights this season, but we are under no illusions about the challenges we face.
“We have three tough Test matches – France beat the All Blacks in New Zealand earlier this year and are always tough opponents at home, Italy were competitive away from home against the All Blacks and the Wallabies, whilst Ireland are the reigning Six Nations champions.
“We do, however, have a fairly settled Test team that boasts a significant number of caps and is well experienced with some very cool heads. But, what we have achieved so far will have little bearing and we will be starting from scratch as we try to put the seal on a very successful season.”
De Villiers added that the nine newcomers to the squad had been recognised for their performances during the 2009 Absa Currie Cup.
“All of them put their hands up during the Absa Currie Cup,” he said. “There are others who may consider themselves unlucky not to have made it but it’s an indication of our depth that we were forced to leave some very good players at home.
“We will use this tour to expose the new players to our team dynamic and culture as well as to allow them an opportunity to play at a higher level and perhaps even challenge for a place in the Test 22.”
De Villiers said the five-match tour would also allow him the opportunity to assess various players, particularly at inside centre and fullback in the wake of the departure of Jean de Villiers and Frans Steyn.
“There are a host of players who are capable of challenging for these two positions, but at the same time we will continue to reassess ourselves in all positions to ensure that we are strong in every aspect of the game,” De Villiers said.
The squad of 37 will assemble in Johannesburg on Monday 2 November, with the Springbok team for the midweek matches departing for the UK on Tuesday 3 November. The remaining players – essentially a shadow Test XV – will remain in South Africa and depart for France on Tuesday 10 November.
Springbok touring squad 2009
(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).
Springbok Tour Fixtures:
Nov 6 vs Leicester at Welford Road @ 19h45 (SA 21h45)
Nov 13 TEST vs France at Municipal Stadium, Toulouse @ 20h45 (SA 21h45)
Nov 17 vs Saracens at Wembley Stadium @ 19h45 (SA 21h45)
Nov 21 TEST vs Italy at Stadio Friuli, Udine @ 15h00 (SA 16h00)
Nov 28 TEST vs Ireland at Croke Park, Dublin @ 14h30 (SA 16h30)
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Earl Rose
Bandise Maku
Chilliboy Ralephelle
Davon Raubenheimer
QUOTA QUOTA QUOTA
Derrick Kuun NOT Bandise Maku
Steven Sykes NOT Alistair Hargreaves
BUT Heini Adams IS better than Ricky January
Very glad that Riaan Viljoen was included-he must grab this opportunity to stake his claim for the 15 jersey!!!He is way better than Zane Kirchner!So is Joe Peterson!! And I do believe that Sykes should be rated above Hargrieves??? Anyone agree with me???
No Deysel
Big surprises for me
Maybe I should start playing rugby again, looks like you can become a Springbok just by being a reserve?playing crap?Or being a has-been?
At least they get a all expenses paid trip to europe EEEHAAAAAAA!
Is Mapoe injured? He was definitely one of the finds of the season. Joe Pieterson as impact player?
Glad Riaan Viljoen is in. What an impressive player.
Why Earl Rose is in the team, I don't know. I haven't seen a more underachieving player. He has all the skills, but doesn't know he has it or doesn't know how to use it.
heini adams
juan de jongh (if youre a province supporter you would know his talents)
francois hougaard
riaan viljoen
ashley johnson
dewald potgieter
davon raubenheimer
Undeserving players:
Odwa Ndungane
Ruan Pienaar
Earl Rose
Alistair Hargreaves
Bandise Maku
Jannie Du Plessis
Unlucky Players:
Lionel Mapoe
Rory Kockott
Steven Sykes
Adriaan Strauss
Wp Nel
Why is Mapoe not there? ?WP Nel? Deysel?Strauss(Ariaan)?? Jaques Lombard??
Did he randomly draw names when he picked the squad??
so u say...
15 riaan viljoen
14 francois hougaard
13 adi jackobs
12 meyer bosman
11 zane kirchner
10 earl rose
9 heini adams
8 ashley johnston
7 dewald potgieter
6 duvon raubenheimer
5 alister harkreeves
4 andries bekker
3 guthro steenkamp
2 bandise maku
1 heiko vd merve
will beat
15 joe pietersen
14 lionel mapoe
13 juan de jong (fine he made team)/wylon murry
12 pieter grant/riaan swannepoel
11 geo aplon
10 naas olivier/pieter grant
9 sarel pretorius/jano vermaak
8 willem alberts/luke twatsen
7 juan smith/juan dysel
6 francois louw/j botes
5 anton van zyl/ f vd merve
4 s sykes
3 wp nel
2 tiaan liebenberg/derick kuun/andries straus
1 wikus blaauw
u tell me...cause i is no understand???
Im fed up of this affrimative action cr@p
only 10 years after the 99 team were told there would never be an all white springbok side again before they played and recorded our only loss against wales
Have to say I bought my last bok jersey last year this team isnt the same one I aspired to play for when I was younger
Either that, or PDV is pitching for the other team, if you get what I'm saying?!
I just can't believe that Joe Pietersen isn't in there, he really had a good season, but I think everyone knows why...because PDV is mad about Pearls.
ok right there are 15 players of colour in that squad!!!!!!.....i have decided that 7 of them deserve to be there(on form!!):
habana
JP
adams
beast
johnson
kirchner
nokwe....just(rather mapoe)
pdv vowed a couple of weeks ago to select these guys on merit.....he actually had my hopes up until i saw these names in the squad:
maku???????....he hasn't started many currie cup game this season!!-wouldn't make the leicester midweek side
chilliboy(actually not that bad but not no.2 in the country)
raubenheimer-ahead of vermeulen, alberts, viljoen,deysel,louw....i don't think so!
steenkamp-wp nel is a country mile better and wicus blaauw
jacobs-can't defend, where is riaan swanepoel or even barry geel???
earl rose-nuff said.......useless
odwa ndungane...average, not intl standard!!
we have much better depth than this and the choices are racist against white players who deserve to be there on merit and form!
agreed hargreaves doesn't deserve to be there, well what about van zyl and sykes????
test XV
beast
bismarck
john
victor
bakkies
brussow
schalk
spies
fdp
morne steyn
bryan habana
wyand olivier
jaque fourie
jp pietersen
riaan viljoen
midweek XV
riaan viljoen
francois houghaard
juan de jongh
meyer bosman
odwa ndungane
ruan pienaar
heini adams
ashley johnson
ryan kankowski
danie roussow
alistair hargreaves
andries bekker
jannie du Plessis
chilliboy
gurthro steenkamp
Joe pieterson should be there, so should peter grant
earl the pearl about as useful as a c@*k flavoured lolly pop
Even Nass deserves a shot he had a great season with griquas
Agree with junior with the 7 on meritt
think well get beasted by the tigers in the first mid-week game
Mean if the anc are desprate enough to have a black bok captian cant we just make chilliboy it full time see how cr@p he is and have the farse over and done with
Joe Pieterson can also kick, unlike Ruan Pienaar.
Rose will play for the last minute of each game, and maybe get a test cap doing this as well.
It is a short tour- 3 tests, and 2 midweek games.
So it will be the usual test 23 doing the business.
Heini Adams is a quality player- perhaps not the 2nd best but no qualms with him playing.
However he is currently in much better than Januarie "get out jail free card".
can't see guys like kanko and bekker listening to him, or any of the team actually for that matter
imagine what derick kuun is thinking!.....he has kept these guys on the bench at loftus for 2 years!!
legend killer ur also right about pietersen though viljoen is a better addition imo!
peter grant should definitely be there ahead of rose and J L Potgieter should have been a definite because he is the best attacking 10 in the country!
WP Nel and Mapoe are very unlucky as they played so well yesterday and this season. Not too awful i think
Yeah Junior I knew he was the captian 2 days ago it said on planet rugby, cant believe it. Well least there are no colours awarded for the mid week games
Id even rather see watson in the squad over chilliboy whos nickname must be sore butt from pulling all the splinters out of his @ss from sitting on the bence
Cant believe there arent more western province guys after their run and the cheeths have a front row for the future
Have to admit I think Juan smith is past it but we have no recognised attacking inside centre which grant could be
I get the whole transformation thing, but it seems that our Government, and yes this is the workings of our government, just can't seem to grasp the correct application of BEE or Transformation! It is supposed to give everyone a fair chance and yes help previously disadvantaged people, but what they don't seem to get is that those people are still supposed to be qualified for that position. You can't sacrifice efficiency or quality of performance by introducing sub-standard players/employees.
If anyone was wondering why there still exists racial tensions in SA Rugby, it is a result of the wrongful application of transformation. These tools, just like our clueless politicians, are actually defeating their own purpose by promoting stereotypes about black/colored players & keeping this notion of quota players alive.
And then there's Maku...W.T.F?!
I actually didn't mean BEE, but AA (Affirmative Action).
My bad!
It's amazing how ppl are quick to jump on the quota selections (which I agree, many of them are unfortunately) but yet miss the biggest joke of them all (except Rose of course), Hargreaves. And Bosman must consider himself very lucky.
I can only assume Mapoe is injured... Otherw his non-selection is shocking. Deysel would've been awesome in the northern hemisphere and WP Nel must be the most unfortunate player to miss out.
Nevertheless, in PDV I trust. Go Bokke!
Haven't seen Davon Raubenheimer much, can't picture that even the most passionate Griqua fan can admit that he is better tha Francois Louw. Francois Louw deserved to be included, the boy is SOLID, ask the Bulls. Then there is still Jean Deysel, Vermeulen, Steggman, Alberts (not all ball cariers, but still!)
Stoked for De Jongh, hope he gets decent game time. That kid will make a BIG impact, mark my words.
Joe Pietersen above Rose as impact player/ versatile back any day!
Heini Adams is solid enough, he won't disappoint.
as far as i'm aware we are the only sporting nation that has this terrible clash of politics and rugby......sad!
reason sport and politics clash is because of our history: now pump the breaks, i know what you're thinking "it's in the past, get over it!" thing is, it's easy for us to say that because we're white (I say we, because I'm in the same boat) but instead of crying about it - we move forward. There are LOADS of players that are unlucky, we all know that, and it hurts just as much for everyone else watching. But the bigger picture is that SOuth Africa IS producing great players, and as things go forward they will change - one has to hope
I personally dont think guys like Rose deserves to be there but does that automatically make him a quota selection? If thats the case what do you call a white player who doesnt(according to us) deserve his place?
Meyer Bosman is certainly not even the fourth best centre in SA but lets see what PDV and the guys have in stall for him. Im definately not going critisize until I know whats cooking.
as I said Ive no problem with adams, de jongh and such just lose the dead weight like chilliboy
Love to see that people assume that Im white?? for all you know I could be black
Bosman is there mainly as hes a utility player and right now the inform inside centre would be grant but where is he??
We have no replacement as of yet for jdv
As you say yeah it is the past but do you see america who have the same past making quotas and racially picked players for there teams in any sport no! Everyones there on merit
the governmant wants to develope underprivaledged communities then go to the townships and develop centres and pitches
You so called new south africans would sell your souls to look good to people. Junior and me just say what everyone else is thinking and too afraid to say. People have to be there own person and not afriad to say what they feel and think, not worry who will stab you in the back for doing it
Bad enough they B@sterdised the jersy in moving the bok in the first place but where were you all in standing up in protests and that, no were all to scared of the big bad ANC
and i am bringing up the politics in sport issue because i believe the past has gone now yet it still raises it's ugly head in sport!!!
why do we have 20-30 sa-born players in europe????......maybe because of lifestyle and money but surely there is truth in them leaving because they believe they won't get a chance in a politically corrupt rugby country!!!
however, to be fair alot of the picks are bad regardless of race. the two hvdm instead of the cheetahs front row? alistar whats his name instead of sykes? bekker hasn't been good all season.
oh well, i still will support you boks, but really, get your act together, white people are south africans too.
Usual shockers- Jacobs? Odwa? Chillieman? Steenkamp?
Should have been there- Vermneulen, Deysel, Andries Strauss/Tiaan Liebenberg/ Kuun(even Burden for heavens sake!), Jano Vermaak, Mapoe, Peter Grant and Joe Pieterson.
New faces im very happy to see-
Allistar Hargreaves-(Big tall chap, young so he can learn from the best two examples in the world)
Hougard- This boy is the definition of talent and determination
Heinke- We all know what he can do.
De Jong- Brilliant talent, speed and willingness.
Bosman- What a trooper.
Kirchner- Lets hope he regains the magic form from earlier this year.
Thats all!
Bandise Maku ?
Chilliboy Ralephelle ?
Davon Raubenheimer ?
What what what?!!! Do the selectors have an issue against province? They had a great season and deserved to be in the final!! Where are Liebenberg, Grant, Pietersen, Aplon, Louw???
Rose shouldn't be there, but in a country like SA - do you think that WE would have chosen a guy like O'connors. Point, the guy makes things happen on the field, not always the right things - but he can win games - i don't mind him coming off the bench in the midweek games
Rose? No brainer. If they tell me they've been working on him full time for the last few months, I'd give him a chance, but I seriously doubt it.
Mapoe SHOULD have been there. 7s contracts can be overwritten for Bok-duty.
As for Earl Rose, well, somebody needs to carry the bags and water bottles...
come on earl is dead weight he cant break into any squads and he showed against the lions how useless he is
Think youll find super that racial persacution(spelt wrong I know) was far worse in the states with the clan and that
end of the story is theres no quotas or breaks for them there, they get in on hard work and merrit
Argeed that this isnt the best squad and if we keep this up well end up like we were in 2003
right now yes we have the best starting XV in the world but those guys arent going to be around forever
Now would have been a prome time for barrit but hes now in the saxons and could be a player to haunt us in the future
As for calling people whiners no people are standing up for what they believe in that a team should be picked regardless of colour, the only colour they should be is green!!!!!!!!!
Ideal team
15 J Fietersen
14 JP Piertsen
13 J Fourie
12 Peter Grant
11 B Habana
10 M Steyn
9 f du Preez
8 P Spies
7 S Burger
6 H Brussow
5 V Matfield
4 B Botha
3 J Smit
2 B du Plessis
1 T Mtawarira
bench
16 A Bekker
17 R Pienaar
18 WP Nel
19 W Blaauw
20 J de Jongh
21 F Hougaard
22 T Liebenberg
23 N Olivier
And legendkiller if you could take the time to tell us you spelled persecution incorrectly, why couldnt you take the time to correct it???
and because I was in a hurry at work and didnt have the time to grab a dictionary
it used to be 2 coloured players had to be on the pitch at all times and so many on the bench
and over 2 years of development (which none of us foresaw) he became the deadliest, fastest wing, in the world.
When we first saw 'jp pieterson' it was the same, and he was in the world cup winning 15.. (neverminding his miracle, match-saving tackle against fiji..)
-these two are now internationally recognised names now (along with many many other development players from the last 15 years)..
BUT, there was a time when they were nobodies, and when the only people that believed in them were the coaches, who had seen enough to believe in them.
Guys, try keep an open mind-towards new names like Heini Adams, Raubenheimer, Johnson, De jongh.. Transformation has worked in the past, and definitely has helped win us world cups and tri-nations ...
that said, Rose, Ndungane, and others, who have been given enough chances, should be gone soon .. ( along with ruan pienaar ..)
down their throats, the first game is going to be crucial for the dirt trackers
these players are just not good enough
chilliboy and bandise maku are tokens they arent even bulls first choice...so if derrick kuun is first choice for bulls and clearly outplays both of them how can he not be selected if they are
adrian jacobs... good year last year useless since he is carrying his injury
francois hougaard... good but i would rather have seen either mapoe or juries those okes deserve a chance
hieni adams...better than januarie but i am pretty sure its a waste... ruan should be the back up scrummy. he is ten times the player.
earl rose????? i dont even need to comment!
basically we still seeing token players... how can we unite as a country when select people are still given express passes to the front of the queu when there are more deserving hard working players who have to watch from the sidelines... wondering... what if?? i understand many are there being given chances in the midweek games but currie cup and super 14 provide chances for players to prove themselves. the springbok squad is for playrs that have already proven themselves... end of!