Toulon captain Joe van Niekerk could make an unexpected return to the Springbok fold – spearheading the influx of overseas stars that will be used to feature in Test matches this year.
As rugby365.com reported earlier today, Bok coach Peter de Villiers could use 2010 as a ‘trial’ for the legion of South Africans currently plying their trade abroad.
And we decided to look at which players could potentially feature for South Africa against Wales in Cardiff on June 5 – the first of the internationals when De Villiers will lean on the overseas contingent of SA players.
Obviously the final selection of the Bok team will be dependent on which – if any – of the South African teams make it into the Super 14 play-offs.
If, based on current form, the Bulls and Stormers feature strongly in the latter stages, there might be a few extra Sharks in action in Cardiff.
Players like Jean de Villiers, BJ Botha and CJ van der Linde, who were called up in an emergency measure for the 2009 year-end tour, could join up with the likes of Francois Steyn, Gcobani Bobo, Butch James, Derick Hougaard, Michael Claassens, Neil de Kock, Joe van Niekerk, Wikus van Heerden, Marco Wentzel, Daan Human, Faan Rautenbach, Danie Coetzee and Pieter Dixon.
Here then is the rugby365.com Bok selection for June 5:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jean de Villiers, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Odwa Ndungane, 10 Butch James, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Joe van Niekerk, 7 Wikus van Heerden, 6 Sean Sowerby, 5 Johann Muller, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 BJ Botha, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 CJ van der Linde.
Replacements – from: Danie Coetzee, Pieter Dixon, Daan Human, Faan Rautenbach, Marco Wentzel, Jacques Cronjé, Neil de Kock, Gcobani Bobo, Meyer Bosman, Jongi Nokwe, Riaan Viljoen, Earl Rose.
March 5th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Now this is a guy WP should have bought back and made captain.
March 5th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
The world has gone crazy….just call this a SA Invitational Team.
March 5th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Rugby365′s team…
Why play Zane at 15?
Why not Frans?
Why play Jean at 13?
And why not an in-form Wynand at 12?
Why out of form JP and Odwa on wings?
Why not Mapoe and Van den Heever or any of the other up and coming wings?
Sowerby is not a 6, he is an 8.
Schalk and Juan does not need time off the park. Both came back from lengthy injuries.
Silly team overall.
March 5th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Reply to Morné @ 1:30 pm:
Hmmm. Nog nooit ooghare
vir hom gehad nie.
Maar sou hom bo Puke
gekies het.
Ja, ‘n mens kan baie gate
in daai span skiet.
Dybil sal ‘n koronêr skiet
oor Butch James.
March 5th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Reply to Morné @ 1:48 pm:
March 5th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Meisiekind sal nie beskikbaar wees nie. Hy sal moet rus na hulle teen die Stormers in die S14 finaal verloor het.
Hy’s anyway nie so goed soos Jean div nie.
En ek sal ook Fransie van gay Pareé op heelagter kies.
March 5th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
Daai reserwebank is saak vir gebed.
March 5th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Reply to manvanstaal @ 2:54 pm:
March 5th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
….
Agree with Morne
But can you imagine Poepale Komphela whining….
“Meestah Daveelyas… why did you bring that white man Joe Steyn back from Dutchland and not choose a good local black player like… like..like Lionel Mapoe?”
March 6th, 2010 at 6:27 am
Reply to Morné @ 1:48 pm:
Is jy dof of iets>?
“Why play Zane at 15?”
Errrr… cause he is the Bulls 15 and it’s his choice possie?>?????
Reply to Morné @ 1:30 pm:
Yep mate you are… (wink)… Spies, Vermeulen and you want Joe ‘Crab-sideways’ VN????
ROTFLMAO!
Even Todd Clever makes more ground off the back of a Lions scrum…
March 6th, 2010 at 8:46 am
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 6:27 am:
Joe fannykirk has been a revelation for Toulon! Best player in france by far especially since he was made captain!
He does play a different role though, not the pick & go from the base of a scrum type 8 but more a playmaker and link man. His defense and captaincy has been awesome and probably the best part of his game
March 6th, 2010 at 9:07 am
If Jdiv hgets picked ahead of WO it will be a travesty, unless they do pick only overseas players.