Boks expanded Training Squad announced

[biffon]

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers confirmed a training squad of 42 players for the forthcoming camp in Stellenbosch and Somerset West.

De Villiers did not announce any Sharks players in his initial training squad due to the team’s participation in the Vodacom Super 14 play-offs.

This was done on request from the Sharks in order to not distract their players ahead of the knock-out fixtures.

Players from the Sharks who have been selected for the squad will be announced following their side’s completion of the competition.

"I want to emphasise that this is a training squad, not a Test squad," said De Villiers. "I have selected certain players to work with them in a squad environment alongside the country's finest players, and others because I felt I had not seen enough of them during the Vodacom Super 14.

"I want to congratulate all the players who were named, and I look forward to working with them all next week."

The squad assembles on Wednesday 21 May.

Backs

Heini Adams, Gcobani Bobo, Meyer Bosman, Tonderai Chavhanga, Jean de Villiers, Isma-eel Dollie, Fourie du Preez, Jaque Fourie, Peter Grant, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Enrico Januarie, Conrad Jantjes, Zane Kirchner, Louis Ludik, Percy Montgomery, Akona Ndungane, Jongi Nokwe, Wynand Olivier, Earl Rose.

Forwards

Andries Bekker, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Brits, Schalk Burger, Wian du Preez, Kabamba Floors, Hilton Lobberts, Victor Matfield, Gerhard Mostert, Brian Mujati, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Danie Rossouw, John Smit (c), Juan Smith, Pierre Spies, Gurthrö Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde, Heinke van der Merwe, Wikus van Heerden, Joe van Niekerk, Duanne Vermeulen, Luke Watson.




Biographies

Heini ADAMS (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 29.05.80. Height: 1.68m Weight: 67kg
International record: Uncapped

Gcobani BOBO (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 12.09.79. Height: 1.80m Weight: 90kg
International record: 5 caps

Meyer BOSMAN (Vodacom Cheetahs)
DoB: 19.04.85. Height: 1.91m Weight: 94kg
International record: 3 caps (7 pts – 2C, 1P)

Tonderai CHAVHANGA (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 24.12.83. Height: 1.84m Weight: 86kg
International record: 2 caps (30 pts – 6T) :D

Jean DE VILLIERS (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 24.02.81. Height: 1.90m Weight: 100kg
International record: 33 caps (65 pts – 13T)

Isma-eel DOLLIE (Vodacom Western Province)
DoB: 06.03.85. Height: 1.71m Weight: 79kg
International record: Uncapped

Fourie DU PREEZ (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 24.03.82. Height: 1.83m Weight: 88kg
International record: 38 caps (45 pts – 9T)

Jaque FOURIE (Auto & General Lions)
DoB: 04.03.83. Height: 1.88m Weight: 96kg
International record: 38 caps (110 pts – 22T)

Peter GRANT (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 15.08.84. Height: 1.88m Weight: 90kg
International record: 2 caps

Bryan HABANA (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 12.06.83. Height: 1.79m Weight: 92kg
International record: 36 caps (150 pts – 30T)

Butch JAMES (Bath)
DoB: 08.07.79. Height: 1.85m Weight: 97kg
International record: 26 caps (61 pts – 3T, 5C, 12P)

Enrico JANUARIE (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 01.02.82. Height: 1.70m Weight: 80kg
International record: 22 caps (15 pts – 3T)

Conrad JANTJES (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 24.03.80. Height: 1.84m Weight: 90kg
International record: 11 caps (17 pts – 3T, 1C)

Zane KIRCHNER (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 16.06.84. Height: 1.84m Weight: 92kg
International record: Uncapped

Louis LUDIK (Auto & General Lions)
DoB: 08.10.86. Height: 1.82m Weight: 92kg
International record: Uncapped

Percy MONTGOMERY (Perpignan)
DoB: 15.03.74. Height: 1.82m Weight: 87kg
International record: 94 caps (873 pts – 24T, 150C, 145P, 6D)

Akona NDUNGANE (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 20.02.81. Height: 1.83m Weight: 86kg
International record: 11 caps (5 pts – 1T)

Jongi NOKWE (Vodacom Cheetahs)
DoB: 30.12.81. Height: 1.82m Weight: 80kg
International record: Uncapped

Wynand OLIVIER (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 11.06.83. Height: 1.84m Weight: 87kg
International record: 21 caps

Earl ROSE (Auto & General Lions)
DoB: 12.01.84. Height: 1.80m Weight: 77kg
International record: Uncapped

FORWARDS:

Andries BEKKER (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 05.12.83. Height: 2.08m Weight: 120kg
International record: Uncapped

Bakkies BOTHA (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 12.09.79. Height: 2.02m Weight: 118kg
International record: 45 caps (35 pts – 7T)

Schalk BRITS (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 16.05.81. Height: 1.82m Weight: 98kg
International record: Uncapped

Schalk BURGER (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 13.04.83. Height: 1.93m Weight: 110kg
International record: 39 caps (50 pts – 10T)

Wian DU PREEZ (Vodacom Cheetahs)
DoB: 30.10.82. Height: 1.85m Weight: 113kg
International record: Uncapped

Kabamba FLOORS (Vodacom Cheetahs)
DoB: 15.11.80. Height: 1.75m Weight: 84kg
International record: 1 cap

Hilton LOBBERTS (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 11.06.86. Height: 1.90m Weight: 102kg
International record: 2 caps

Victor MATFIELD (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 11.05.77. Height: 2.01m Weight: 110kg
International record: 67 caps (25 pts – 5T)

Gerhard MOSTERT (Auto & General Lions)
DoB: 04.10.84. Height: 1.99m Weight: 110kg
International record: Uncapped

BRIAN MUJATI (Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 28.09.84. Height: 1.81m Weight: 116kg
International record: Uncapped

Chiliboy RALEPELLE (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 11.09.86. Height: 1.78m Weight: 95kg
International record: 2 caps

Danie ROSSOUW (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 05.06.78. Height: 1.97m Weight: 118kg
International record: 31 caps (30pts – 6T)

John SMIT – Captain (Clermont)
DoB: 03.04.78. Height: 1.88m Weight: 116kg
International record: 75 caps (20pts – 4T)

Juan SMITH (Vodacom Cheetahs)
DoB: 30.07.81. Height: 1.94m Weight: 106kg
International record: 42 caps (50pts – 10T)

Pierre SPIES (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 08.06.85. Height: 1.95m Weight: 106kg
International record: 9 caps (10pts – 2T)

Gurthrö STEENKAMP (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 12.06.81. Height: 1.89m Weight: 124kg
International record: 13 caps (5pts – 1T)

CJ VAN DER LINDE (Vodacom Cheetahs)
DoB: 27.08.80. Height: 1.90m Weight: 122kg
International record: 48 caps (20pts – 4T)

Heinke VAN DER MERWE (Auto & General Lions)
DoB: 03.05.85. Height: 1.82m Weight: 110kg
International record: 1 cap

Wikus VAN HEERDEN (Vodacom Bulls)
DoB: 25.02.79. Height: 1.95m Weight: 104kg
International record: 14 caps (5pts – 1T)

Joe VAN NIEKERK (Auto & General Lions)
DoB: 14.05.80. Height: 1.92m Weight: 106kg
International record: 46 caps (40pts – 8T)

Duanne VERMEULEN (Vodacom Cheetahs)
DoB: 03.07.86. Height: 1.92m Weight: 90kg
International record: Uncapped

Luke WATSON(Vodacom Stormers)
DoB: 26.10.83. Height: 1.84m Weight: 97kg
International record: 1 cap

[biffon]

Two Zimbo's in the squad! Chavanga & Mujati
not sure if Mtawarira will be naturalised because that would make 3 :D

[joemac]

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Me says.

[barto11]

Beast is elgible for selections...reckon Pothead de Villiers would be nuts not to pick him

[Angelshark]

So then why have they not selecte him. Mind you he tires easily cos of that bulk he carries around. But on the whole a goo squad, a few could be dropped.

[biffon]

Beast wasnt picked because he was playing that weekend... if you look carefully there are no sharks players in that list!

i also thought he might not be eligable but barto seems to think he is so.. YES PLEASE!

[barto11]

Beast has been added to the squad, along with Bismarck du Plessis, Ryan Kankowski, Johann Muller, Ruan Pienaar, Francois Steyn, Waylon Murray, JP Pieterson, BJ Botha, Adrian Jacobs, Odwa Ndungane...intersting to know how Pieterson got there(as if we dont know) and why Kockott(form scrummie of the competition) and Brad Barritt(who made an incredible impact when he came on against the tahs) were omitted

[Shifty]

11 non-whites in the squad. 3 Zimbabweans. Winger Tonderai Chavhanga and props Tendai Mtawarira and Brian Mujati. Woohoo!

Don't tell Jake White, but I see that Luke Watson has made the squad. :D

[barto11]

Final 30 for the Wales/ Italy matches


BACKS
Gcobani Bobo, Tonderai Chavhanga, Bolla Conradie, Jean de Villiers, Peter Grant, Bryan Habana, Adrian Jacobs, Butch James, Conrad Jantjes, Ricky Januarie, Percy Montgomery, Odwa Ndungane, Ruan Pienaar and Francois Steyn.
FORWARDS Andries Bekker, Bakkies Botha, BJ Botha, Bismarck du Plessis, Ryan Kankowski, Victor Matfield, Tendai Mtawarira, Brian Mujati, Danie Rossouw, John Smit (c), Juan Smith, Pierre Spies, Gurthrö Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde, Joe van Niekerk and Luke Watson.

BACKS

Gcobani Bobo, Tonderai Chavhanga, Bolla Conradie, Jean de Villiers, Peter Grant, Bryan Habana, Adrian Jacobs, Butch James, Conrad Jantjes, Ricky Januarie, Percy Montgomery, Odwa Ndungane, Ruan Pienaar and Francois Steyn.
FORWARDS Andries Bekker, Bakkies Botha, BJ Botha, Bismarck du Plessis, Ryan Kankowski, Victor Matfield, Tendai Mtawarira, Brian Mujati, Danie Rossouw, John Smit (c), Juan Smith, Pierre Spies, Gurthrö Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde, Joe van Niekerk and Luke Watson.

Story here:

http://www.supersport.co.za/rugby/article.aspx?id=256078&headline=Muller%20and%20JP%20shock%20omissions

[Edmonsta]

Don't tell Jake White, but I see that Luke Watson has made the squad. :D

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrr.:smiley35:


I wish Luke Waston would strike a European deal and sign a 25 year contract with Gllenfallywanglanlgglochnoglophlob* in Wales.







*Yes, I said Gllenfallywanglanlgglochnoglophlob. No, it's not a real place, but don't all towns in Wales sound a bit like that?

[biffon]

not sure about Mujati hes a bit of a loose cannon but the other two zimbo's deserve their spots for sure

IMHO Chavanga is a better winger than Habana right now, Habana has had a forgettable season.
Beast is not world class but he's the best in his spot this year.

overall i think he has a good mix there and all are talented no doubt! the best? debateable but no selection is ever without controversy! lets just see how they go hey!

=====

SOUTH Africa coach Peter de Villiers has selected an unprecedented 11 non-white players in his 30-man Springboks squad to play Wales and Italy.
The Rugby World Cup winners will assemble in Bloemfontein on June 1 to prepare for the first of two matches against Wales followed by a game against Italy in Cape Town.
"I don't know how many players of colour we've chosen and I don't care," De Villiers said in playing down the major talking point of his first squad.
"The squad was picked entirely on merit and every player named deserves his spot."
Three of the 11 no-white players are Zimbabwean - winger Tonderai Chavhanga and props Tendai Mtawarira and Brian Mujati. All have qualified through South African residency.
Mujati and Mtawarira, along with Stormers lock Andries Bekker and Sharks winger Odwa Ndungane, are the only uncapped players.
The previous highest number of non-white players in the national team was nine in a 28-man squad in 2005 and 2007.
De Villiers's predecessor, Jake White, named six non-white players in the 2007 Rugby World Cup squad. Wingers JP Pietersen and Bryan Habana took to the field in the final.
Similarly, former Springboks coach Rudolf Straeuli's 2003 Rugby World Cup squad included six non-white players.


http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23776378-23217,00.html