Bok coach keen to look at SA Baabaas
Bok coach Allister Coetzee is hoping this young squad can “set up the tour” of Europe when they take on the Barbarians on Saturday.
|||Cape Town – Springbok coach Allister Coetzee is hoping that his young squad can “set up the tour” of Europe when they take on the Barbarians on Saturday.
But there are also eight South Africans in the Baabaas squad, and just one of them is capped in veteran scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar.
So while the Bok team will also have its fair share of newcomers to the international stage, Barbarians coach Robbie Deans has brought in Cheetahs fullback Clayton Blommetjies, Lions stars Akker van der Merwe, Martin Muller, Kwagga Smith and Ruan Ackermann, as well as former Lions prop Schalk van der Merwe (Montpellier) and Western Province flyhalf Robert du Preez.
Most of that group were a bit unfortunate to miss out on the Bok squad for the upcoming tour match at Wembley Stadium, and they would be keen to catch the eye of Coetzee on Saturday.
“Deans has assembled a squad with a lot of experience and young players. There are a couple of South African players in the form of Robert du Preez, Kwagga Smith, Ruan Ackermann and Clayton Blommetjies who are all included there – young players that I will be really keen to have a look at as well,” Coetzee said on Sunday.
“Then Andy Ellis, Sam Carter, Reggie Goodes and Brad Shields from the Hurricanes, and Ruan Pienaar as well. So, it will be a great test for us and the Barbarians traditionally play a very exciting brand of rugby.
“But we’ve got to follow our processes and make sure we lay a good foundation and get off to a good start because this is the first game and it really sets up the tour.”
One of the Boks’ biggest challenges will be among the loose forwards due to injuries ruling out a whole host of players, where the Baabaas boast hardened Super Rugby campaigners such as the Crusaders’ Jordan Taufua, Hurricanes’ Brad Shields and the Highlanders’ Luke Whitelock, while Smith and Ackermann would also hope to get some game time.
So the likes of Nizaam Carr, Uzair Cassiem, Oupa Mohoje, Jean-Luc du Preez and Roelof Smit will have their work cut out at the breakdowns and lineouts.
Coetzee, though, has made it clear in the build-up that his team won’t be caught up in trying to emulate the Barbarians’ free-flowing style, and he regards the game to be as important as the three Tests against England, Italy and Wales.
“I’m excited to see the young players perform. We’ve got one week of preparation left and the first week has gone really well. One more week at Lensbury (in London) and we’ll take it from there.”
– ashfak.mohamed@inl.co.za
@ashfakmohamed
Springbok Squad For Barbarians
Forwards: Lourens Adriaanse, Nizaam Carr, Uzair Cassiem, Jean-Luc du Preez, Thomas du Toit, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Lizo Gqoboka, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Oupa Mohoje, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, RG Snyman, Roelof Smit, Adriaan Strauss (captain).
Backs: Ruan Combrinck, Damian de Allende, Faf de Klerk, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Pat Lambie, Rudy Paige, Sergeal Petersen, Tian Schoeman, Jamba Ulengo, Piet van Zyl, Francois Venter.
Barbarians Squad
Andy Ellis (Crusaders/Kobelco & New Zealand), Sam Carter (Brumbies & Australia), Matt Faddes (Highlanders), Michael Fatialofa (Hurricanes), Reggie Goodes (Hurricanes), Richard Mo’unga (Crusaders), Luke Morahan (Force & Australia), Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs/Panasonic & Australia), Melani Nanai (Blues), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster & South Africa), Andrew Ready (Reds), Paddy Ryan (Waratahs & Australia), Brad Shields (Hurricanes), Toby Smith (Rebels & Australia), Nic Stirzaker (Rebels), Seta Tamanivalu (Crusaders & New Zealand), Jordan Taufua (Crusaders), Dan Tuohy (Ulster & Ireland), Luke Whitelock (Highlanders & New Zealand), Clayton Blommetjies (Cheetahs), Armand van der Merwe (Lions), Martin Muller (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Lions), Ruan Ackermann (Lions), Schalk van der Merwe (Montpellier), Robert du Preez (Western Province).