The squad is as follows:-
Forwards (17)
Schalk Brits (Bulls), Lood de Jager (Bulls), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), Steven Kitshoff (Stormers), Vincent Koch (Saracens, England), Siya Kolisi (captain, Stormers), Francois Louw (Bath, England), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Lions), Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers), Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Gloucester, England), Trevor Nyakane (Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Lions), RG Snyman (Bulls), Duane Vermeulen (Bulls)
Backs (14)
Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Damian de Allende (Stormers), Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks, England), Warrick Gelant (Bulls), Elton Jantjies (Lions), Herschel Jantjies (Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse, France), Jesse Kriel (Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), S'bu Nkosi (Sharks), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz, Japan), Handre Pollard (Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Northampton Saints, England), Frans Steyn (Montpellier, France)
As is the case in all squads here are some really questionable selection in this one as well. However, the squad at least comprise of players who have shown that they are contenders for selection after playing in some matches. Compared to the 2015 WC squad - which contained players who did not play any rugby for up to 18 months before the start of the WC - as a result of which there were basically 8 unplayable players in the squad th squad seems on the whole to eb selected on merit.
The squad contains some realy questionable players starting with the worst of the lot:-
1 Frans Steyn
Steyn played from the bench in the latest RC tests and his stats were as follows:-
Steyn
0/0
0
2/2/12
20
0
3
1
0
5/2
0/0
0
0/0
Steyn played for about 80 minutes and the above indicates a contribution of near to zero in quality. Those stats in one game would have been totally inadequate, This is the only really poor selection in the squad.
2 Francois Louw
Another player who showed zilch in the tests he played in this year as is evident from his stats:-
Louw
0/0
0
0/5/9
12
0
0
1
0
17/4
0/0
4
0/0
Louw started in one test and then came from the bench in the other two. Atrocious stats and performance is no better He made two breakdown turnovers - but giving away 4 penalties is disastrous.
3 Warrick Gelant
A very slow player to play at full back - often out of position with extremely questionable defense,
4 Franco Mostert
Played in two of the three RC matches and was poor in lineout play and his missed tackle on Sanchez is typical. He has a problem - n ot physical enough to play as a Tight 5 player,
5 Kwagga Smith
One of the best Sevens players I have ever seen - but in the 15 man game he is physically not really good enough to compete.
None of the above are real passengers like the case was in 2015 and all five is likely to be bench selections at best or starting against weaker pool teams. The problem is when key players get injured they are not good enough to start for the Springboks against stronger teams,
