Springbok alignment camp . . .

Forum » Rugby » Springbok alignment camp . . .

May 15, 2025, 11:25

Rassie has announced 56 players for the Springbok alignment camp.


There will be two camps, one for locally based players and a virtual camp for overseas based players. The local camp is in Cape Town on Thursday 22 May and the virtual camp is on Friday 23 May.


The players named are as follows:


Players invited to Springbok alignment camp in Cape Town:

Forwards: Renzo du Plessis (Lions), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Neethling Fouche (Stormers), Cameron Hanekom (Bulls), Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi (both Sharks), Wilco Louw (Bulls), Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu (both Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (Stormers), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls), Vincent Tshituka (Sharks), Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (all Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).

Backs: Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi (all Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker (all Sharks), Quan Horn (Lions), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Ntokozo Makhaza (UCT), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Morne van den Berg, Edwill van der Merwe (both Lions), Damian Willemse (Stormers), Grant Williams (Sharks).

Players invited to virtual Springbok alignment camp:

Forwards: Juarno Augustus (Northampton Saints), Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets).

Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Dynaboars), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier).


Five players were specifically named as being unavailable because of injury. They are:


Frans Malherbe, Elrigh Louw, Ben-Jason Dixon, Deon Fourie and Trevor Nyakane.

May 15, 2025, 11:28

No Evan Roos is the biggest surprise for me.


Andre Esterhuizen is included so ou Maaik looks like he's going to lose all that money he is betting on AE not being a Springbok this year.

May 15, 2025, 11:36

Geez so many good players missing - Roos, how the hell did he not make it


Ruan Venter

Ludwig

Theunissen

Manu Tsituka

Dan du Preez

Buthelezi

Horn

Ruben v Heerden

Ruan Vermaak

JF v Heerden

Jenkins

JD Schickerling

Andre Smith

Dweba

Grobelaar

AH Venter

Sadie

Hanro Jacobs

Frans Klopper

Nohamba

Papier

Jantjies

de Wet

Nico Steyn

Masuku

David Kriel

Jurenzo Julius

Henco v Wyk

Sebastian de Klerk

Zas

Tyrone Green

Hartzenberg

Gelant


Too much emphasis on the old and not enough new added - very disappointing if this is how Rassie is going to proceed


Surely it’s time to move on from the likes of Reinach, Mostert, Koch, Mapimpi etc given their ages

May 15, 2025, 12:10

There seems to be somehing wrong with Roos - he is not playing for the Stormers this week. So it may be the reason why he is not in the Alignment group.


The fact that Dumbo was invited does not mean he would be selected to play for the Springboks in any match this year,

May 15, 2025, 12:28

Ja well, Roos wasn't mentioned among the players not considered due to injury.


I suspect Rassie was only ever going to consider one of Roos or Hanekom and he's gone for Hanekom.

May 15, 2025, 13:40

I’m quite surprised at some of the ages of the players he’s picked. I think you need a lot of new blood.

May 15, 2025, 13:44

Roos is quick... but average.

May 15, 2025, 13:45

Yes Becs very disappointing

May 15, 2025, 13:50

Team of non selected


15 Gelant


14 Green


13 JJ


12 David Kriel


11 Tambwe


10 Masuku


9 Papier


1 Matanzima


2 Dweba


3 Hanro Jacobs


4 Jenkins


5 Ruben v Heerden


6 Buthelezi


7 Ruan Venter


8 Roos


16 AH Venter 17 Matongo 18 Klopper 19 Ruan Vermaak 20 Manu Tsituka 21 Nohamba 22 Henco v Wyk 23 Zas

May 15, 2025, 13:50

Chippo and you are a rugby ignorant prick

May 15, 2025, 14:05

Any international side would welcome Roos.

May 15, 2025, 14:06

Chippo and you are a rugby ignorant prick


Why bother?

May 15, 2025, 15:21

I don’t think alignment camp players are the final pick?? The other players like Roos, JJ, might still be in the final group…


Who is Makhaza from uct? Well let’s wait and see what the final group will be….Don’t forget transformation ….ha ha

May 15, 2025, 18:08

He is a wing that looks pretty handy - Cheetahs have signed him. He also kicks for poles

May 15, 2025, 18:40

I get the impression Roos is going to be another the du Preez twins story under Rassie


Which is pretty pathetic

May 15, 2025, 18:42

Roos will get a shot under Rassie. You'll see.

May 15, 2025, 18:56

At some point in time, we're going to have to do without the great Siya Kolisi. If that moment is now, then . . . .


15 Fassi

14 Cheslin

13 JJ/Hooker/Am/Kriel

12 Damian (Willemse!)

11 Arendse

10 Sacha

9 Grant

8 Roos

7 PSdT

6 Hanekom

5 RG

4 Eben (capt)

3 Ntlabakanye

2 Marx

1 Ox


16 Bongi

17 Mchunu

18 Wilco

19 Moerat/C Wiese

20 JLdP/Louw/Juarno/Vincent/Manu/Renzo/Theunissen/J Wiese/DdP/Kwagga/Phepsi

21 Krappies

22 Moodie


Apologies for the cop-outs for the #13 and #20 positions. Just so many options and no clear stand-out.


Hope that's enough black players.

May 15, 2025, 18:59

Not convinced Rooi - as much as I rate Rassie some of his selections at times leaves me despairing


du Preez twins is a perfect example


Also the reliance on the old guard is at some point going to bite us - he needs to let go and the only way he can do that is by including the younger players in these camps to get them aligned

May 15, 2025, 19:00

Rassie has his own views on the age thing. I also see it your way but I'm no longer questioning Rassie's RWC-winning wisdom . . . so I'll accept his calls . . . for now.

May 15, 2025, 19:28

Oh my goodness you want to start Ntlabakanye ?? That guy is like two Busses put together, slow, no muscles and not the best scrummer ….


Wilco is light years infront of him and will Anker the scrum the best…so if you didn’t know, a tighthead,s job is to Anker the scrum…. There is no one better than Wilco!!


And I agree with Saffolk that Erasmus is relying to much on the old gaurd ….it actually seriously looks like he wants that old gaurd at the next World Cup??


But all will be revealed sooner than later…..If he is this real genius or the

" Poephol “ I have long been suspecting:)


May 15, 2025, 19:41

"Oh my goodness you want to start Nchankanye??"


Sorry, giMp, you're going to have to be a bit clearer than that if you want to join adult discussions.


"Nchankanye" (sic) . . . Do you mean Ntuthuko Mchunu, the Sharks amazingly mobile loosehead or do you mean Asenathi Ntlabakanye, the best performing tighthead in this year's URC?


Not trying to make you look like a dick again, I honestly don't know which one you're referring to.

May 15, 2025, 19:53

giMp, let me start off by saying that I'm the biggest Wilco Louw fan. I think he's brilliant.


If you prefer to start Wilco and bench Marx then you go right ahead. I won't complain too loudly.


If you're too naive or ignorant to recognise that one of Bongi or Asenathi needs to start, then rather go talk rugby with one of the Grumpy Old Men. I'm not interested.

May 15, 2025, 20:20

Which one do you think, if I talk about two Busses put together??


The prop that plays for the lions….is maybe not that bad but not on the level of Wilco…we want to win right??


Aah and still you want to carry on about my mix up ??!! You really are a pathetic loser….


So go ahead and pick some fat guy and let our best performing SA TH sit on the bench??!! Talk about being a dick, and you proclaim you know Rugby??!!


Your name should be Gimp retard :) and don’t flatter yourself, I don’t want to talk to you , you absolute horror of a human being!!


I am just shutting you up, because of this absolute KAK you sprouting again!!


And by the way, leave the Team picking to Dave, you are fucking Kak:)

May 15, 2025, 20:26

Lol


So...no JJ...and no Roos.


Seems like you need to start listening to us, Dawid.


The inclusion of Nortje is just pure icing on the cake.




May 15, 2025, 20:51

Denise, I bet that Chippo watches far more rugby than you do and has probably watched hours of Roos this season alone.


Oh, my bad, I forget you live in Australia where they don't have internet access and so you can't watch rugby even though you love it much.

May 15, 2025, 22:11

Plum stop being a fucking prick

May 15, 2025, 22:26

How so, Dawid?


You call JJ the best thing ever...but he doesn't even cut the alignment camp.


Rassie knows nothing about locks, and I guess we can add 13s to the list, right?





May 15, 2025, 22:38

Did JJ make the last alignment camp?


Its not only JJ that is missing - get a fucking life you loser

May 15, 2025, 22:48

haha, I love how Dave can create 15 springbok sides that can beat the one that Rassie picks. So take Rassies 54 and Dave can pick a 30 man squad that will beat Rassies team.


But I think Dave is onto something. Remember when SA A player the bulls during the covid BI Lions tour and the bulls end up beating the boks. So I do think he might be onto something.


Tyrone Green is a mystery, he had a blinder over the weekend. Had a hand in almost every Harlequins try except for the one where he knocked his own try scoring chance in the goal area due to stupid messing around.

May 15, 2025, 23:13

Yeo King - yet Rassie ignores Green and adds a wing that has only played in the Varsity Cup


Fuck me if Rassie had me as his selector he would have a 100% winning record


Willie, Mhakaza, Mapimpi, Faf, Reinach, Koch, Mostert, Kleyn, Nortje, Fouche, Renzo and v Staaden are all poor calls


The likes of Lood, Malherbe, de Allende, Kolisi and Bongi are also reaching their sell by dates as are Am, Jessie and Esterhuizen


The only 30 plus year olds worth hanging on to are Kolbe, Pollard, Marx, Eben, PSDT, Wilco, RG and maybe Kwagga - with enough other experience provided by Arendse, Willemse, Ox and Wiese


Thats a core of experience - 12 players worth - build around this core with younger players I say

May 16, 2025, 06:17

Its not only JJ that is missing - get a fucking life you loser

I wouldn't give a toss of what ButtPlug says, Dave........a loudmouth jammed with self importance.

His selections are a laugh.....bangs on about Loosie at 12 which in my not so humble opinion is a specialist position reliant on a number things, as an example, guile and instinct which comes after years of experience. So here you have a Loosie who has gained his experience in that certain position now because he can run he qualifies to play as an inside centre.

Hilarious!

Then the Nutter goes onto say everyone is doing it but when asked to name the teams....UHHH OHHH out comes the deep dive.

The funniest is when he picked a supposedly world class cricket 5.........headed by a player who only really represented in T20......a white ball player who isn't even good enough to represent the Proteas in ODI cricket.

You can be forgiven if you believe he comes out of the ANC academy of cricket and rugby.

May 16, 2025, 06:28

Lol


According to us then we should drop players as they reach 31 lol


Rassie is just smarter than you boys. Well, it doesn't take smarts to see what's happening, just a teensy bit of logic.


NONE of the players you've mentioned are over the hill.


...did you see who and where we are playing this year? Two away games against the world's biggest cheats and then also away against France and Ireland.


Rassie won't be blooding much new talent in those games. I can see Hanekom and Hooker becoming regulars this year buts that's about it. I think Henekom will likely get the most caps but it wouldn't surprise me at all if Hooker starts some important games too - the kid has everything you'd want from a Bok.


Rassie needs his strongest side to give him one more solid season and then we'll see bigger changes.


So calm down Dawid.


Anyway, don't worry. If JJ doesn't get selected he can always represent SA in the 100m because he "glides" and because Joel says he's "Vinnig" bhahahaha


May 16, 2025, 06:31

Lol and Mike rates that AE will get no caps.


One can only laugh

May 16, 2025, 06:48

Yep Roos at 12 - case closed


Nothing more needs saying

May 16, 2025, 07:13

It's called a speculation, Dawid.


Unlike the "facts" you share which are mostly never facts at all but rather the ramblings of a fake.

May 16, 2025, 07:34

You have to be pretty fucking rugby ignorant to suggest Roos at 12 - that is the definition of fake fucking stupidity. But we are pleased with the fact you speculated - for that dumb call now defines you as a so called rugby follower


You clearly know fuck all about the game

May 16, 2025, 08:39

Haha if only we could trust your calls though.


You've still never provided a clear answer as to why couldn't play 12.


The catcher from your knuckle-dragging self was..."Becos Roos have 8 on hims jersey"


We will never get an answer from you. And when we do, it's likely be riddled with contradictions like "There is no space in the modern game but there is space, but there ain't, but there is."




May 16, 2025, 08:55

Yep Roos at 12 - case closed

Actually, it's his mighty effort to think outside the square.......oh my aching sides!

The comedy continues with 'everyone is doing it'........sure as hell not holding my breath waiting for a response.



May 16, 2025, 09:03

My advice for Rassie .................. give Etzebeth a complete break from rugby & tell him to take the missus on a lekker holiday & return in the new year.


https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/94793659/how-rugby-sabbaticals-helped-the-all-blacks-win-the-last-world-cup

May 16, 2025, 09:19

Denise, you've been so embarrassed on here that the best you can do is to side with others in disagreements...like the beta that you are.


You make me cringe to the bottom of my soul.


A repulsive and cowardly beta.

May 16, 2025, 09:34

You make me cringe to the bottom of my soul.

Actually that's what some of us do when you suck-up to your master.

And oh, Suck-ups don't have a soul, that belongs to your Master in whose tailpipe you live rent free.

May 16, 2025, 10:12

Don't try being brave, Denise...it's even more cringeworthy.


You actually repulse me.



May 16, 2025, 10:50

Roos at 12 is not worth my time especially when it comes to that much rugby ignorance


Its on par with dumb Jake wanting to move Esterhuizen to flank or Sonekus playing 9 for the Boks

May 16, 2025, 10:52

Have you guys been watching Rassies pod cast.


When he interviewed Os I thought that he will try get him out of retirement. We all know how much Rassie loves having older players I the team.


Remember Frans Steyn already had his name on the team sheet for 2023 only for his knees to give in, but Rassie would have picked him at 37

May 16, 2025, 10:57

In other words, Dawie...you'll take a cop-out because you don't really have an argument.


Weak sauce much?


...and you only brought up Roos at 12 because you needed a cop-out from facing up the the fact that Rassie didn't pick the guys you blab on about all the time.


Yet more weak sauce...

May 16, 2025, 11:22

You actually repulse me.

I know but in truth I do more than that.......like I live rent free in your head, you can't get through the day without mentioning me. You don't repulse me.......it's quite simple really, I have zero feelings for you.

Go'on child have the last word.


May 16, 2025, 11:25

This is supposedly a guy that wouldn't make a good 12.


Get ready for Saffex to tell us why there is some unknown force at play that means Roos can't play at 12.


Right now, he's lighting candles to conjure up his argument from the ethereal.





So here's the challenge Dave...


Upload a video of your own that shows a 12, any 12, doing things that you don't see in the above Roos package.


Should be easy.


May 16, 2025, 11:57

Joke

May 16, 2025, 12:06

That's right Saffex, stay in your hole hahahaha

May 19, 2025, 14:48

Renzo du Plessis - am I missing something here?


What has or does this guy do that merits him being included in the alignment camps


Solid at best, nothing stand out at all


JC Pretorious in the Lions side is far more influential for a start


I don’t get it

May 19, 2025, 16:00

Actually that’s a pretty compelling video….maybe 12 would have been his best position. What doesn’t he have….he has pace, strength, great lines…..obviously he can defend and compete on the deck. Perhaps he is short a genuine step and some center software it’s hard to define. But that should be teachable….Dud Allende doesn’t have a step and he is the best 12 in the game ROFL!

May 19, 2025, 16:09

"Actually that’s a pretty compelling video"


Thanks, Moz, I think so too.

May 19, 2025, 16:13

One of the best videos of a modern 12 that I've seen - the stuff DDA supporters make up in their dreams about their boy. Roos is the perfect understudy to Esterhuizen.

May 19, 2025, 16:28

Oh boy - yep it’s that easy to walk into playing probably the most demanding position on a rugby field


Playing for the local pub side yes but come on you bloody clowns - seriously?


This evidences that neither of you have ever played rugby at a good level or for an extended period of time


I remember in my sons year at school, Ethan, the current GB 7’s captain spent 95% of his school career playing as a brilliant openside flanker but the side was lacking clout at centre so they moved him to 12 in his final year where he effectively played like a flanker at 12


When he left school he knew he was too small to make it as a forward so pitched himself as a 12 - needless to say he was told he lacked the software of a 12 gained over years playing in the position but luckily for him he got snapped up by England 7’s and now GB having been with the 7’s set up for the past 7 or so years.


Certainly one of the best English schoolboy rugby players I have seen - equipped to play a great all round game but flank to centre he had no chance - not at any significant level anyway


You need soft silky hands at 12 something Roos does not have. He has good hands to pass off as a loosie but certainly not a centre. But more importantly you need the rugby IQ of a 12 not a loosie to make it as a 12


It’s why Marius Louw has always been at best a solid provincial 12 - plays mostly as a flanker - nothing subtle about him

May 19, 2025, 16:55

There’s constant talk over here of using Ben Earl at 12. It seems a bit of a theme at the moment !

May 19, 2025, 17:01

Earl is far less equipped to play 12 than Roos is - so he would be a complete failure, while the likes of Roos or Hanekom would just be failures

May 19, 2025, 17:04

Well, he has moved to centre in some games already, when players have had to be replaced.

May 19, 2025, 17:07

And Dud Allende has silky hands? Give me a break.

May 19, 2025, 18:58

Damn right de Allende has great hands - Schalk Brits said he had the best pass off both hands in the squad


Plenty of examples over the years of DA executing a silky touch


Moz I get that’s it’s beyond you to have picked up on this


DA has it all

May 19, 2025, 19:16

I think you're both wrong.


Damian de Allende is not nearly as bad a player as Moffie makes him out to be, but he's also not nearly as good a player as Saffex makes him out to be.


He's in-between. A relatively ordinary talent who's done some great things for the Springboks along with some really dumb, inept things.


I've never been a big fan but I've also punched the air with joy - like when he scored our winning try against Ireland right in front of me at Ellis Park.


It's not just his questionable talents, it's the style of rugby we play with him at #12 . . . the same style we'll have if we replace him with AE. I want to see something different. Damian Willemse is what I want to see.

May 19, 2025, 19:21

That's my only basic requirement for our Springbok backline going forward . . . Fassi at #15 and DW at #12. The rest of the backline picks itself except for the #13 jersey which is still a huge question mark in my never humble opinion.

May 19, 2025, 19:55

de Allende for me is good at implementing the plan - the plan is to play it direct as all test 12’s do


I rate him not because he is ripping defences apart by being creative, the romantic notion of a 12, it’s because he is freakishly strong and able to effect that direct route so well


I appreciate his role and how good he is at effecting it. I always go back to the astute Will Greenwood’s comment about DA - he said, ‘you stop DA, you stop the Boks’ - I get that.


Schalk Brits said DA was one of the most gifted players he had played with but is playing to a plan


Early on in his career we saw him stepping, attacking space, showing all his creativity but that has never applied at test level for it’s simply not the reality


I appreciate DA for being very effective carrying it up - a major part of the Bok plan


Agreed 100% - moving forward I’d like to see a change with Willemse at 12 and Fassi at 15. Will Willemse at 12 in moderns tests work - i hope so but suspect not - if any player can change the way a test 12 operates, it’s Willemse


Will we see it happen - I suspect not. Instead we will see Willemse at 15 and Fassi holding the tackle bags



May 19, 2025, 20:32

Willemse is a Great Fullback and possibly a Great 12, but definitely not the only candidate…..


May 19, 2025, 21:23

He is by far the best candidate - no other candidate comes close - the next best are Hooker and David Kriel - followed by Rickus Pretorious, Branson Mills, Roche, James Mollentze, Bruce Sherwood, Josh Boulle and Zwelendaba


No point in considering Esterhuizen he already 31

May 19, 2025, 21:58

Dud and Willemse are totally different players, just as Pollard and Sacha are totally different players. A Sacha/Willemse backline implies a much more fluid game….which implies loosies that can keep up with the style.


It also requires that the new players gel….some tough selection issues for the genius who to date has made very few that have implications on the style of play.


Personally I think Sacha/Willemse might be too much sleight of hand and a tough direct center might work best outside Sacha as long as that direct center isn’t the Dud.

May 19, 2025, 22:10

No why would you want the worlds best 12 in DA outside Sacha - that would be plain stupid

May 19, 2025, 23:38

Nobody with half a brain believes that nonsense. Esterhozen outside Sacha would be perfectly balanced. Dud outside Sacha would be totally confused…think the Mo’unga stutter step which froze the Dud computer.


Soft hands… .waaaaaaaaahahaha!

May 19, 2025, 23:46

Ah so Schalk and Jean have no brains selecting him or Aplon saying he was better than Jean having played with both


And of course all the pundits got it wrong selecting him in the world side of the year


Yep all got no brains and you are the authority


Haahaaaahaaaa

May 19, 2025, 23:48

The appeal to authority in the absence of a highlight reel worth watching….yes that’s definitely persuasive.

May 19, 2025, 23:58

de Allende’s highlights reel is awesome - what you on about


So are you saying Schalk Brits, Jean, Schalk Burger and Aplon do not know what they are talking about?

May 20, 2025, 00:37

I think they know exactly why they are saying that.

May 20, 2025, 01:00

Well I somehow doubt they all have some hidden agenda or blind loyalty to DA


Sincerity will be the only reason but not to you of course as that just does not fit your script

May 20, 2025, 02:36

Absolutely no payoff for any of these players connected with Bok rugby to say anything but positives.


May 20, 2025, 11:16

Well Schalk and Jean never said anything they just selected DA


Aplon was asked the question to choose between DA and Jean having played with both - his response was ‘sorry Jean but it has to be DA’

May 20, 2025, 16:33

Gio played together with John Deere at the Stormers when he was still able to offload and attack space…..


So that is what Gio is most probably referring to and not there Bok games together??


DDA,s role as tractor and bashing into opponents, is definitely not the player he used be at the stormers…


May 20, 2025, 18:30

Mpuff stop making shit up

 
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