rugby365's Overlooked XV
Reflecting on Peter de Villiers’ South African squad for the upcoming end-of-year tour, rugby365 takes a look at some of the players who could possibly have felt a little bit unlucky not to hear their names read out on Saturday night.
Every Springbok selection is always a hotly contested topic but, with nine new caps named in an extended touring party, De Villiers' latest crop seems to have received a fairly unwelcoming response.
A 37-man party heads to the UK this week for a series of five tour matches - three tests, against France, Italy and Ireland, and two 'midweek' fixtures, against Leicester Tigers and Saracens.
With such a big squad available to them, De Villiers and his fellow selectors had plenty of scope in their selection. Seemingly mixing two ideas, i.e. rewarding good form and building for the future, they have named an ‘interesting’ combination of players to tour this November.
Rather than get into a slanging match over the players who are in the squad perhaps the better way for us to look at it is for us to assess who has not made the cut.
Of course they could not take everyone, there were always going to be some disappointed players, but we spare a thought for those we feel were especially unlucky to miss out this time around.
Time, as it always does, will tell whether they have got it right but one has to feel particularly for young Cheetahs wing Lionel Mapoe.
The Sevens star has been a revelation for Naka Drotské's side this season and proved once again in the Currie Cup final that he can compete with the like of Bryan Habana - arguably the world's best wing.
His place in the touring party has been filled by two more experienced players Jongi Nokwe and Odwa Ndungane, while Francois Hougaard's versatility may also have been a critical blow to his chances.
Loose forwards Jean Deysel, Francois Louw and Frans Viljoen could all consider themselves unlucky not to be on the plane and in line for matches against Leicester and Saracens. All three had incredible seasons but have lost out as Davon Raubenheimer and Dewald Potgieter get their first call-ups to the senior side.
Jacques-Louis Potgieter and Sarel Pretorius, both of whom have enjoyed great seasons, were both tipped for selection over the last couple of weeks but have fallen short at the final hurdle.
It is in the front five though were a good deal of sympathy probably needs to be dispatched. The selections made by De Villiers and co. are all reasonable and justifiable but the performances of WP Nel and Wian du Preez in particularly during the campaign were certainly worthy of being rewarded with an international call up.
Anton van Zyl and Steven Sykes too will be wondering what exactly they did wrong but with Danie Rossouw and Andries Bekker ever-presents in the squad, and Alistair Hargreaves given the 'young players' spot, neither will get the opportunity to don the green and gold this November.
One wonders how this team might have faired next Friday against the Leicester Tigers at Welford Road?
An Overlooked XV: 15 Joe Pietersen (WP, 25 year-old), 14 Lionel Mapoe (Free State, 21), 13 Deon van Rensburg (Leopards, 27), 12 Peter Grant (Western Province, 24), 11 Gio Aplon (WP, 27), 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter (Free State, 25), 9 Sarel Pretorius (Griquas, 25), 8 Wilhelm Alberts (Lions, 25), 7 Jean Deysel (Sharks, 24)/Frans Viljoen (Free State, 27), 6 Francois Louw (WP, 24), 5 Anton van Zyl (Western Province, 29), 4 Steven Sykes (Sharks, 25), 3 WP Nel (Free State, 23), 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (WP, 28)/Adriaan Strauss (Free State), 1 Wian du Preez (Free State, 27)
Springboks touring squad:
Forwards (20): John Smit (captain), Victor Matfield (vice-captain), Andries Bekker, Bakkies Botha, Heinrich Brüssow, Schalk Burger, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Alistair Hargreaves, Ashley Johnson, Ryan Kankowski, Bandise Maku, Tendai Mtawarira, Dewald Potgieter, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Davon Raubenheimer, Danie Rossouw, Pierre Spies, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Heinke van der Merwe.
Backs (17): Heini Adams, Meyer Bosman, Juan de Jongh, Fourie du Preez, Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Adi Jacobs, Zane Kirchner, Odwa Ndungane, Jongi Nokwe, Wynand Olivier, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Earl Rose, Morné Steyn, Riaan Viljoen
By Peter Murison