42 players invited to final planning camp

ex:KEO

Meyer granted extra opportunity

24 May 2012

Heyneke Meyer will hold a fourth and final planning camp in Durban from Sunday with 42 players invited to attend.

This will be the final opportunity for Meyer to work with the players before the final Springbok squad to face England meets on 3 June.

The camp will take place on 27 and 28 May. The players will depart Durban around midday on Monday and will be back with their Super Rugby franchises for training in the afternoon.

‘We discussed this with the franchise CEOs recently and they’ve been very accommodating, as they were earlier in the season,’ said Meyer.

‘We’ve planned it in Durban, because the Stormers take on The Sharks at Kings Park the day before and will be there already. Players from the Bulls, Lions and Cheetahs will fly in on Sunday morning.

‘This is by no means a final Springbok squad and the door will be open for all our eligible players until the announcement of the squad that will take on England.

‘This camp will put in place a number of the finer details in terms of what we want to achieve against England. We will hit the ground running on 3 June, when we converge in Durban for the first Test with a final squad.’

Meyer said that they will keep in touch with the Super Rugby franchises regarding injured players, but that they weren’t considered for this camp.

Players invited to the final Springbok Planning Camp in Durban on 27 and 28 May:

Forwards (22): Coenie Oosthuizen, Tendai Mtawarira, Dean Greyling, Jannie du Plessis, Pat Cilliers, Werner Kruger, Bismarck du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Flip van der Merwe, Eben Etzebeth, Andries Bekker, Juandré Kruger, Marcell Coetzee, CJ Stander, Heinrich Brüssow, Keegan Daniel, Willem Alberts, Jean Deysel, Pierre Spies, Ryan Kankowski, Josh Strauss.

Backs (20): Francois Hougaard, Jano Vermaak, Piet van Zyl, Morné Steyn, Pat Lambie, Elton Jantjies, Peter Grant, Wynand Olivier, Jean de Villiers, Juan de Jongh, JJ Engelbrecht, Bryan Habana, Bjorn Basson, JP Pietersen, Gio Aplon, Lwazi Mvovo, Akona Ndungane, Zane Kirchner, Jaco Taute, Joe Pietersen.

Nobody can deny that Meyer is thorough. He will have met and analyzed every rugby player that even sort of has the potential to be a bok....by all accounts the man is a real student of rugby. Also, I like the idea that all rugby serious reugby players in the country are aware of  what the Springbok vision is. Something that Aus and NZ also focus on. It'll be nice to have everybody singing from one song sheet. 

My team from this squad will be:

15) Lambie

14) JP

13) De Jongh

12) De Villiers (C)

11) Habana

10) Grant

9) Hougaard

8) Spies

7) Stander

6) Brussow

5) Bekker

4) Etzebeth

3) Jannie

2) Bismarck

1) Greyling

16) Tendai

17) Chilli

18) Juandre

19) Marcell

20) Van Zyl

21) Morne

22) Engelbrecht

I am liking Meyers selections, the man sees it my way. The only no no amongst that lot is Pat Cilliers in the forwards and to a lesser extent Ndungane, Aplon, Basson and Pietersen - the three being a size thing.

Meyer has it spot on for the most. Would have been good to see the inclusion of Kitshoff, Malherbe, Elstadt, Kolisi, Whitehead and Jordaan.

Great to see Coenie, Greyling, Flip, Josh Strauss, Jantjies and Taute in the fold........players some fools on here regard as no hopers - at least Meyer has brains

Bok-BF I decent side there, really like Lambie at 15, but grant at 10 ain't gonna happen, warranted or not. Also, with a non specialist place kicker at 15 you 10 needs to be a specialist...ala Morne. Like it or not he is gonna be there..which is fine for now, or at least until Goosen is back. I'd also have Frans in at centre and move De Jongh out.

Saff, I agree about what you say regarding Coenie, Greyling, Strauss, Jantjes and Taute, but I reckon Flip is very overrated.

From that list lets look at the players most likely to be amongst the 22 players for the English test:-

15     Lambie

14    Aplon

13    Taute

 12    De Villiers

11    Habana

  9    Hougaard

  8    Spies

  7   Coetzee

  5   bekker

  4   Etzebeth

  3   Beast

  2.   Du Plessis

  1    Du Plessis

Fir the bench I think the following would be picked:-

  16   Ralepele

  17  Oosthuizen

  18   Greyling

  19   Deysel

   20   Grant

    21   Pietersen (Joe)

    22   Engelbrecht

There are two plyers not at the camp that could possibly be in the 22 and that would be Francois Steyn and Ruan Pienaar.    Meyer may move De Villiers to 13,  use Steyn as 12 and put  Pienaar on the Bench.

I am surprised at the calling on Greyling to attend the camp - can only be sentimental reasons because he is not a good scrummager or hard worker in playing situations.   Would have preferred a player like Malherbe thn Greyling.   Not surprised at the ommission of Kitshoff - he has not proiduced the scrummaging goods recently and has been poor to average.

My side from this squad including Frans Steyn would be:

15. Lambie 14. JP 13. Taute 12. Frans 11. Mvovo 10. Jantjies 9. Hougaard 1. Beast  2.Bismark 3.Jannie 4.Etzebeth 5.Bekker 6. Brussouw 7. Coetzee 8. Spies 16. v/Zyl 17. Jean 18. JJ Engelbrecht 19. Coenie 20. Strauss 21. Flip 22. J.Strauss

 Also do not discount the possibility of Meyer including Fourie Du Preez. He has alot of respect for him and he is available. If Jean is not going to be Captain, Fourie du Preez might. we should be aware of this and not be surprised if it happens.

Hey may well include Du Preez, but surely surely surely he would not leave out the best scrummy in the world to do that? Hougard is, by Du Preez's own admission a better scrumhalf.

 At this stage i don't know. I just have this nagging suspision that he is going to pick du Preez as captain. can't put a finger on it, just this thought going through my head. I hope the suspition is unfounded though. As Hougie is exciting. 

Francois Steyn made himself unavailable for the England tours.  He is getting married.

 OK that is news. He would then most likely be available for the Championship I take it.

Hope your suspision bout Du Preez is wrong.  Really now is the time to get the new guys in there! 

Damn RugbyGal, I read that a while ago, but I completely forgot about it. No Steyn is gonna make our centre issue a little more serious. Then, in my mind, there is no doubt that Meyer will select De Villiers and De Jongh...Taute maybe has an outside chance of replacing De Jongh, but I doubt it.

 nah blue I Think Meisiekind will be the one. By the looks of where Taute is in the naming of the squad I think he is in there as a Fullback. I think the new Centre is going to be JJ engelbrecht. Well can just speculate. This is not final and he has said that other guys will also get a chance. 

I think Beeno is quite dissapointed though that Elstadt is not there. or Kolisi for that matter. If Deysel, Alberts and Kankowski are good enough on current form i am sure Kolisi is as well. And Johnson isn't there either.

Kankowski has not played any real rugby since the first game against the Bulls when he got injured.  (20 minutes against the Force and 3 minutes against the Cheetahs.    So I doubt he will be there unless he gets some gametime now AND he will be a bit rested.  Deysel and Alberts also have not played alot of  Rugby this year due to injuries.   Elstadt I agree and Kolisi.  But maybe just a few too many youngsters.  Also surprised to see JJ there.  And all us Stormers supporters were complaining bout Sadie that left.  He does not seem to fit in that team. 

So only two Stormers forwards there and no Elstadt our number 1 enforcer loosie. 7 bulle forwards though and seven sharks forwards. Kolisi I am not disapoined about in the slightest. Kitshoff has faded  a bit and is too young still. chilli boy ahead of liebenberg what nonsense is this. We should have had 4 in with Schalk and Duanne to come. I see there are also 7 bulle backs!!!! Maak al die bulle bokke takes on a real meaning. Virtually the entire bulle pack and backline. Man these guys should be way ahead on the super comp table!!  We will not comment on the bulle coaching staff. Blue/pink times ahead it appears.

Pat Cilliers should not be there and wee daniels must not be allowed in a Bok jersey again please! Deysel is far to slow so what is the point. Ashley Johnston deserved a call up.

I just hope he does not pick a lot of small backs and a puny loose trio of show ponies. Jordaan was worth a call up.

Not a very promising start by Meyer but I guess with a large squad and injuries etc it looks worse than it is. Seems too bulle orientated  - that has to be clear. When in doubt go for the bulle as I know them is his thinking. Still you could select a decent team from those players so here's hoping we dont find 14 bulle starting!!

The nature of this squad is best grasped when you realize the captains of all the 5 S 15 teams are present....yep even the ball spiller. This is an exercise in unity. Many of these players are destined never to appear in a Bok jersey under Meyer.

This Francois Steyn news is a shocker. The first test series under a new Bok coach and he isn't available because he is getting married. That couldn't be put off for a few weeks......and a three week hiatus is necessary? One can't help but feel that playing for the Boks isn't a very high priority for Fransie. It's a free world, but if the day ever comes he wants back in late in his career, he better be damn good.

The pity is I would like to have seen Jean move out to 13 and Fransie provide ballast at 12. And now we are going to have to endure the wailing about de Jongh, the obvious choice, at 13.

Nice attempt at interpretation Mozzie - so the only reason Josh is in the squad is because he is the Lions captain.............do you really expect us to believe such utter rubbish? Let me guess Taute is in there because he captained his schools first team. There is clutching at straws and then we have your informed take.

The bottom line Mozzie is that Meyer knows a good player when he sees one - Josh, Taute, Jantjies, Greyling, Flip are all there on merit.....case closed

Sure and not one of them will make the Bok/ England 22.  There is no information in this squad....zippo.

Flip on merit?  Yes for getting yellow/red cards!

I like the way Meyer approaches things...for those of you who are already questioning Meyer for potentially not getting things 100% to your liking, please try to remember how, at about this point in the season under PDV, we were all in a panicked frenzy at the inevitable lunacy that was about to take place. Then stop, say a little prayer of thanks for the fact that we now have a clever, deserving and previously successful coach. 

Never forget to give thanks to PDV for helping us to realize how lucky we really are to have Meyer as our coach! 

 With HM and Rassie as a combo, they will defenitely try to cover all their bases. I just don't have alot of hope that they will win the first test. Too little time to prepare. However the first test will be perfect preperation for the second test. :)

No Mozzie its a great squad - a squad along the lines of the one I would have selected bar 3 or 4 calls.

Meyer is the man - onwards and upwards.

 I think there will be at least 4 players outside of South Africa in the final squad. It is a real dam shame that Jacque Fourie will not be available. I think we will really miss the guy. None of our 13's have put their hands up this year. Juan de Jongh has been really average. There are some quality youngsters like Jordaan and Engelbrecht but I think that they are still a bit green for test rugby. 

@ Saff No argument there!

@ Ek While I agree that Heineke and Rassie are a good combo, I don't agree regarding the results of the first test. In my eyes England are always underdogs to us, and as such, we should win the test. Remember, they also have a new coach, a young team, and they are playing away from home. Nope, Boks will win all three games...they'd bloody better.

King, Taute is the answer at 13, agreed de Jongh offers stuff all. Jean will do at 12 until Frans returns, although Whitehead might be the better option against England

Ok Sappster....you have already predicted a Bok loss if Meyer picks Jean, Habana and Morne. That's one.

So now all of a sudden you believe your case has been made because of a very politically correct squad of 42 players. So here's another bet.....I say none of Taute, Strauss, Jantjies and  Greyling,will make our Bok 22 against England. Care to stick your neck out again?

Taute will make the 22, Strauss and Jantjies might. Greyling wont.

So what on earth have Coenie, Strauss, Taute, Greyling and Flip got to do with political correctness huh?

No he wont make the 22. The question is whether you will have another explosion about the coach when that happens. Will he go from on the right path to being a fool? And shampies Dave, political correctness doesn't have to be racial....this relates to keeping everybody in the boat, hence all the captains.

By the way, many of us are getting rather tired of your insults. They have no more shock value, they are just tedious. Your whole act on this Board is tedious. This is supposed to be an enjoyable part of our lives.....you should stop acting up for the benefit of your audience at SS, and post in a collegial way. But if your only purpose is to destroy things....be a good chappie and piss off.

 Moz you have said some stupid stuff in your time, but if you sincerely believe that the only reason Josh is in the squad is because he is the Lions captain, then I fear you have completely lost the plot.

Coenie, Adrian Strauss, CJ Stander, Houggard, Josh Strauss, Joe Pietersen  - 6 of my favourite SA players!

Maybe Adrian and Josh Strauss can be chosen as part of the leadership group and future Boks captains!

 Josh is by some distance the best leader in SA and a damn fine player. I'd be more than happy to see him captain the Boks right now

"Josh is by some distance the best leader in SA and a damn fine player. I'd be more than happy to see him captain the Boks right now" He can only be an improvement on Spies, but sadly I do not think he's got the skills to be in the Bok side. Pity Vermeulen is injured. I would rather try Alberts at 8, ahead of Joss and Spies eventhough he lacks form ATM.

I think you are mistaken about Frans Steyn. He is getting married on the day of the 2nd test. I believe he is available for the 1st and 3rd tests.

the last i heard about steyn, he had said he was leaving metro. this is great news and i hope he goes back home to play in the spXV come 2013.
i hope meyer and selectors only pick players based in SA, its a nice incentive to get people to stay and strengthen local clubs and its also a reward for those who show loyalty.

if these rumours about francois getting married are true, then regardless of the world class player he is, i say let him go and dont pick him at all. i mean peter grant showed the stormers more commitment then dteyn did the Springboks, WTF??? o_O
besides, its not as if the Boks are short on depth, many a class player everywhere, so meyer should just apply the one door shuts and another one opens motto.

also why does j strauss get so much hate??? hes massively rated in NZ and the way some people talk about him, they make it sound like hes the most overrated person ever???
i also cant see morne styen going anywhere, his connection with meyer and the best all round kicking boots in the country, makes him one of the more dangerous 10s going round.

Not hate for Josh... sasu. The fact that I don't rate him doesn't mean I have feelings against him personally. But to say he is a "great leader" when the side that won our CC is at the bottom of the S15 seems to beg the question of what a great leader is supposed to accomplish. And have you looked at his tackling stats....he tackles infrequently  and ineffectively.

Its no rumour about Frans. He's definitely getting married in Durban to a Durban lady a week after the Durban test. He is finished with Racing Metro and its pretty certain he has already signed with the Sharks. For some reason it hasnt been announced yet.