Springboks World Cup Squad Named
July 23rd 2007 08:01
from ARU
No crass jokes please.
Bob Skinstad, who captained the Boks when they toured for the Tri Nations, had given up Rugby in South Africa in 2003 and only returned to action for the Sharks in this season's Super 14 series.
Skinstad spent the last four years in England where he played a minor role with the Richmond club. Skinstaad used his good looks and charm to advantage by doing a lot of television work but he was "lured" back to the country of his birth by White during last season's Bok tour of Ireland and England.
White is putting a lot of faith in Smit and Botha. I suppose considering that they both are ranked among the top 5 hookers in the world, this faith is founded. Still...Smit did get injured, which is a rarity and hooker is a very specialised position.
The only time the sin bin rule of player off is tweaked, is when a hooker gets sinbinned.
Smit was the only choice for Captain and du Randt is a reliable workhorse.
The Springboks World Cup Squad:
Forwards:
Pierre Spies, Bob Skinstad, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Wikus van Heerden, Danie Rossouw, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Johann Muller, Albert van den Berg, B.J. Botha, C.J. van der Linde, Os du Randt, Gurthro Steenkamp, John Smit (captain), Gary Botha.
Backs:
Percy Montgomery, Francois Steyn, J.P. Pietersen, Bryan Habana, Ashwin Willemse, Akona Ndungane, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Wynand Olivier, Butch James, Andre Pretorius, Fourie du Preez, Ruan Pienaar, Ricky Januarie.
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It's interesting to note that there doesn't seem to be any fallout from the 'colour code'...see this post
South Africa coach Jake White chose not to spring many surprises when naming his Rugby World Cup squad on the weekend.
White kept his promise of consistency by sticking to the same tried-and-tested formula which has been in place for the last four years.
"Its nice to have a squad of players who are all fit and ready to go, we have no long term injuries and the guys have a clean bill of health," he said.
"Everyone will be available in the next 46 days when the tournament starts."
White was specifically referring to fly-half Andre Pretorius, who has not played in three months because of injury and who is still doubtful for the start of the tournament.
Pretorius has been sidelined since the Super 14 with a buttock injury."Its nice to have a squad of players who are all fit and ready to go, we have no long term injuries and the guys have a clean bill of health," he said.
"Everyone will be available in the next 46 days when the tournament starts."
White was specifically referring to fly-half Andre Pretorius, who has not played in three months because of injury and who is still doubtful for the start of the tournament.
No crass jokes please.
The Boks are also taking a risk on Bob Skinstad, who injured his ribs in the Tri-Nations game against Australia in Sydney three weeks ago.
Skinstad [is also] unavailable and will only know closer to the time if they will be able to make the tournament, which gets under way in France on September 7.
Skinstad [is also] unavailable and will only know closer to the time if they will be able to make the tournament, which gets under way in France on September 7.
Skinstad spent the last four years in England where he played a minor role with the Richmond club. Skinstaad used his good looks and charm to advantage by doing a lot of television work but he was "lured" back to the country of his birth by White during last season's Bok tour of Ireland and England.
White preferred JP Pietersen over Waylon Murray and Wikus van Heerden, who impressed for the Springboks 'B team' in the two recent Tri Nations clashes, over Pedrie Wannenburg.
The Boks line-up contains three scrumhalves - Fourie du Preez, Ricky Januarie and exciting youngster Ruan Pienaar but only two hookers in John Smit and Gary Botha.
The Boks line-up contains three scrumhalves - Fourie du Preez, Ricky Januarie and exciting youngster Ruan Pienaar but only two hookers in John Smit and Gary Botha.
White is putting a lot of faith in Smit and Botha. I suppose considering that they both are ranked among the top 5 hookers in the world, this faith is founded. Still...Smit did get injured, which is a rarity and hooker is a very specialised position.
The only time the sin bin rule of player off is tweaked, is when a hooker gets sinbinned.
The team is largely made up of the Sharks and Bulls players who contested the Super 14 final this year - the Bulls contributing 11 players and the Sharks 10.
Smit will skipper the side while veteran Os du Randt is the only survivor of the team which won the World Cup in 1995.
Smit will skipper the side while veteran Os du Randt is the only survivor of the team which won the World Cup in 1995.
Smit was the only choice for Captain and du Randt is a reliable workhorse.
The Springboks World Cup Squad:
Forwards:
Pierre Spies, Bob Skinstad, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Wikus van Heerden, Danie Rossouw, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Johann Muller, Albert van den Berg, B.J. Botha, C.J. van der Linde, Os du Randt, Gurthro Steenkamp, John Smit (captain), Gary Botha.
Backs:
Percy Montgomery, Francois Steyn, J.P. Pietersen, Bryan Habana, Ashwin Willemse, Akona Ndungane, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Wynand Olivier, Butch James, Andre Pretorius, Fourie du Preez, Ruan Pienaar, Ricky Januarie.
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To find out more about South African Rugby:
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It's interesting to note that there doesn't seem to be any fallout from the 'colour code'...see this post
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Comment by David
What does this mean?
David ...
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
When a player is sin-binned, they're sent off...which you know of course...BUT if the player is a hooker, the #2...he gets substitued with the reserve hooker and another Forward is sent off...which is a bit unfair but you cannot not have a member of the front row.
The front row players (the props and hooker) are very specialist positions...so if any front row player gets sin binned, this substitution happens.
...otherwise we're left with uncontested scrums and that's not what Rugby is.
That's for those people way out of their league.
Uncontested scrums destroy the purpose of play.
The Lower The Number The Better The Man...and it all stops at The Perfect 10...