Saw this list of overseas contenders on Keo:
Bryan Habana, Ruan Pienaar, Morné Steyn and Francois Louw are no longer based in South Africa, but have featured prominently for Meyer’s Boks over the past three seasons. One would expect all four of these players to make the 31-man World Cup squad, fitness permitting.
Meyer will certainly have a big overseas contingent from which to choose. Presumably, he will consider players who have been involved with the Boks over the past three years. The likes of Bakkies Botha and Gurthrö Steenkamp, two stalwarts plying their trade in France, have both retired from international rugby, but there are still plenty of options abroad.
Zane Kirchner has played 15 Tests under Meyer, and his good form for Leinster and more recently for the Barbarians will not have gone unnoticed. Johan Goosen made his mark on last year’s tour to Europe, and can play several positions.
Juandré Kruger is another who is currently playing for Racing Métro, but one should remember he played 16 Tests for the Boks over the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Hooker Schalk Brits hasn’t enjoyed as much game time, but has been a regular feature in Meyer’s squads since late 2012. Fourie du Preez is based in Japan rather than Europe, but he will have a key role to play at the World Cup.
Meyer hasn’t been afraid to experiment during his tenure, be it with players from South Africa or abroad. Seven players, who are now based overseas, have played six or fewer Tests for the Boks between 2012 and 2014 (Pat Cilliers, Andries Bekker, Jaque Fourie, Wynand Olivier, Heinke van der Merwe, Jacques Potgieter and Juan Smith).
If one is to look at the players who have already represented Meyer's Boks and who could be considered for the World Cup, and form a hypothetical Overseas Bok XV, it will look something like this:
Hypothetical Overseas Springbok XV – 15 Zane Kirchner (Leinster, Ireland), 14 Johan Goosen (Racing Métro, France), 13 Jaque Fourie (Kobelco Steelers, Japan), 12 Wynand Olivier (Montpellier, France), 11 Bryan Habana (Toulon, France), 10 Morné Steyn (Stade Français, France), 9 Fourie du Preez (Suntory Sungoliath, Japan), 8 Juan Smith (Toulon, France), 7 Jacques Potgieter (Wararahs, Australia), 6 Francois Louw (Bath, England), 5 Andries Bekker (Kobelco Steelers, Japan), 4 Juandré Kruger (Racing Métro), 3 Pat Cilliers (Montpellier, France), 2 Schalk Brits (Saracens, England), 1 Heinke van der Merwe (Stade Français, France)
