Ken Borland

The Lions enjoyed 22 points from the boot of flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff as they beat the Bulls 32-21 (half-time 9-6) in their SuperRugby match at Ellis Park on Saturday and all but eliminated them from playoffs contention.

Boshoff kicked two conversions and four penalties in a faultless goal-kicking display and also added two impressive drop goals.

The Lions, playing with tremendous energy considering they have just flown back from Australia, produced some top-class counter-attacking rugby as they capitalised on a host of Bulls mistakes.

They also scrambled superbly in defence and a Bulls side missing the composure brought by the rested Victor Matfield looked rattled throughout the game.

The Lions showed their character from the outset as they recovered the ball from a lost lineout in the second minute and Boshoff claimed his first drop goal (3-0).

While the Lions struggled in the lineouts, they gave the Bulls a working over in the scrums and the visitors were penalised in that set-piece in the fifth minute, allowing Boshoff to slot a penalty (6-0).

Bulls flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter missed a penalty in the seventh minute and was then penalised for not releasing in the tackle, Boshoff stretching the Lions’ lead to 9-0.

The Bulls fought their way back into the match, however, their big ball-runners making inroads, and two Potgieter penalties narrowed the gap to 6-9 at the break.

The Bulls replaced loosehead prop Dean Greyling in the first scrum of the second half, bringing on Morne Mellet, and immediately won a penalty, allowing Potgieter to level the scores in the 45^th minute.

But the Lions regained their inspiration straight afterwards as Bulls lock Grant Hattingh failed to claim the kickoff in a key moment. The ball bounced into eighthman Warren Whiteley’s hands and the Lions captain quickly fed centre Alwyn Hollenbach, who went blind before jinking inside to score a fine try.

Boshoff added the conversion (16-9) and the Lions continued to separate themselves from their error-strewn opponents as the deadeye flyhalf kicked another drop goal and a penalty before flank Warwick Tecklenburg scored a try after a thrilling break by replacement Elton Jantjies. He sent Stokkies Hanekom, who had a dream game, haring towards the line with a brilliant flip inside, but the  outside centre was stopped just short of the line before popping the ball up for Tecklenburg to score.

There was some cheer for the flat Bulls as replacement centre William Small-Smith and flank Jacques du Plessis scored late tries, but Boshoff provided the fairytale ending for the Lions with an 80^th-minute penalty after a scrum infringement.

While the Lions have climbed off the bottom of the log with the victory, the Bulls are now in ninth place with 33 points and locked in a dire struggle with the Highlanders (38), Hurricanes (37), Western Force (36) and Chiefs (35) for a place in the top six and progression to the playoffs.

Scorers

Lions – Tries: Alwyn Hollenbach, Warwick Tecklenburg. Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (2). Penalties: Boshoff (4). Drop goals: Boshoff (2).

Bulls – Tries: William Small-Smith, Jacques du Plessis. Conversion: Jacques-Louis Potgieter. Penalties: Potgieter (3).

 

 

Pace bowler JP de Villiers will no doubt want to spend more time in the Titans team next summer and the 25-year-old reminded everyone of his talents when he won the Northerns Senior Provincial Player of the Year award at the union’s prizegiving over the weekend.

De Villiers played just two Sunfoil Series games for the Titans last season, but showed his all-round promise by averaging 29 with the bat and taking seven wickets at 27.28.

He was Northerns’ leading wicket-taker in the three-day competition, however, with 36 scalps at an average of 20.19 and he averaged 24.72 with the bat, including an unbeaten century.

De Villiers also helped himself to the best Senior Provincial Bowler award, while Shershan Naidoo and Heinrich Klaasen were his fellow winners, sharing the batting award.

Maggie Mpahlele was his mimic for the Northerns women’s side, winning the bowler and player of the year awards, while national captain Mignon du Preez took home the award for best batter.

Du Preez was honoured alongside Marcia Letsoalo, Sunė Luus and Andrie Steyn for making the national women’s team, while Northerns’ long-term future looks bright with

Driaan Bruwer, Aiden Markram, Corbyn Bosch, Luus and Steyn all acknowledged for making the SA U19 side.

Left-arm spinner Ryan Houbert has previously played for Northerns and he was named the Best Club Cricketer of the Year for his 53 wickets for CBC Old Boys.

A club-mate, Henk Coetzee, was the leading batsman with 880 runs, but CBC Old Boys could not prevent the top-class Tuks first XI from winning the Premier League.

A host of other awards were handed out as a memorable evening celebrated the achievements of cricketers from U9 to international level.

 

 

AWARD WINNERS – 2014

 

Primary Schools

 

U9 Large Schools League        –           Hennopspark

U9 Medium Schools League   –           Mayville

U10 Large Schools League      –           Hennopspark

U10 Medium Schools League –           Pretoria Oos

U11 Large Schools League      –           Midstream College

U11 Medium Schools League –           Tygerpoort

U11 Small Schools League      –           Die Poort

U12 Large Schools League      –           Lynnwood Laer

U12 Medium Schools League –           Elarduspark

U13 Large Schools League      –           Constantiapark

U13 Medium Schools League –           Tygerpoort

U13 Small Schools League      –           Lynnwood Ridge

U13 Girls League                    –           Boerefort

 

High Schools

 

A League                                –           Waterkloof 1

B League                                –           AHS 2

C League                                 –           AHS 3

D League                                 –           PBHS 2

E League                                 –           Menlopark 3

F League                                  –           Menlopark 4

G League                                 –           Wagpos

H League                                 –           Garsfontein 4

I League                                  –           AHS 4

J League                                  –           Erasmus

U15 A League                          –           Garsfontein

U15 B League                          –           Midstream College

U14 A League                          –           Menlopark

U14 B League                          –           Midstream College

U19 Girls League                    –           Zwartkops

 

Individual School Awards

 

Best Player of the year: U13 Standard Bank              –           Anslin Fortuin

Best Player of the year: U15 Week                            –           Shared : Dean Foxcroft

& Nkosinathi Msiza

Best Player of the year: U17 Week                            –           Jannaman Malan

Best Player of the year: U19 Coca Cola Khaya Majola –        Driaan Bruwer

Best Player of the year: U19 Girls Week                    –           Sunė Luus

 

KFC Mini Cricket

 

Recognition Award                 –           Ian Morton

Recognition Award                 –           Sagree Naicker

Recognition Award                 –           Nicolien van Deventer

Recognition Award                 –           Lana Hattingh

Recognition Award     –           Angie Makhafola

Recognition Award     –           Madelien Vivieres

 

 

Junior Clubs

 

U9 Platinum                –           Tshwane Metro A

U9 Gold                       –           Moot A

U9 Silver                      –           Tshwane Metro B

U11 Platinum              –           Assupol Tuks A

U11 Gold                     –           Tshwane Metro A

U11 Silver                    –           Assupol Tuks C

U13 Platinum              –           Centurion Kavaliers A

U13 Gold                     –           Irene Villagers B

U13 Silver                    –           Tuine C

U15 Platinum              –           Willowquins A

U15 Gold                     –           Defence B

 

Senior Clubs

 

Premier League                      –           Assupol Tuks 1

Promotion League                  –           Pretoria 1

Reserve League                      –           Shared : Assupol Tuks 3 & PHSOB 2

Presidents League                   –           Police 2

Second League                        –           CBCOB 3

Third League                           –           Assupol Tuks 7

Fourth League                         –           AC Old Boys 5

Fifth League                            –           Moot 3

Sixth League                            –           Shared : Pretoria 5 & AC Old Boys 7

Seventh League                       –           Pretoria 6

Women’s Premier                   –           Shared : Irene Villagers & Sinoville & Tuks

Women’s T20                          –           Assupol Tuks

Knock Out League                   –           Assupol Tuks 1

Club Twenty20 League           –           Shared : Assupol Tuks 1 & TUT 1

NCU Club of Excellence          –           Assupol Tuks

 

Individual Club Career Awards

 

53 Club Season Wickets                                  –           Ryan Houbert (CBCOB)

880 Club Season Runs                                     –           Henk Coetzee (CBCOB)

 

4393 Club Career Runs                                   –           Reinhardt Mostert (Villagers)

3441 Club Career Runs                                   –           Andre Malan (Villagers)

3253 Club Career Runs                                   –           Henk Coetzee (CBCOB)

304 Club Career Wickets                                –           Will Giessing (ACOB)

411 Club Career Wickets                                –           Piet Botha (ACOB)

166 Club Career Wickets                                –           Ricardo Moonsamy (Laudium)

 

Best Club Player of the Year                           –           Ryan Houbert

 

 

Differently Abled Awards

 

LSEN Player of the Year                                  –           Armand Coetzee

Intellectually Impaired Player of the Year     –           Kirby Legoabe

Deaf Player of the Year                                  –           Reinhardt Limbach

Blind Player of the Year                                  –           Marco van der Linde

Disabled Player of the Year                            –           Ruan van Aswegen

 

Scorer Awards

 

Titans Scorer of the Year                                –           Ashler Serwadi

Premier League Scorer of the Year                –           Kathy Kulper

Promotion League Scorer of the Year                        –           Armandt Oosthuizen

Best newcomer Scorer of the Year                –           Coert de Toit

Most dedicated Scorer of the Year                –           Eunice Mahlanyane

 

Umpire Awards

 

Best Junior Umpire in League                                    –           Katlego Molefsane

Most Promising Development Umpire           –           Lucky Motswege

Most Promising Senior Umpire                      –           Kevin Lawrence

NCUA’s Umpire of the Year                            –           Jurie Sadler

NCU’s Club Umpire of the Year                      –           Hassen Dawood

NCUA’s Club of the Year                                 –           Sinoville

NCUA’s Premier League Captain of the Year –          David Bunn

 

National Awards

 

SA Deaf                                   –           Gerard Kroese

SA Deaf                                   –           Reinhardt Limbach

SA Deaf                                   –           Prince Mashego

SA Deaf                                   –           Coenraad van den Berg

SA Deaf                                   –           Onalerona Seemise

 

SA Blind                                   –           Johan Schroeder

SA Blind                                   –           Vernon Barnard

SA Blind                                   –           Sedizani Netshikwele

SA Blind                                   –           Innocent Phiri

SA Blind                                   –           Marco van der Linde

SA Blind                                   –           Sean Schwan

SA Blind                                   –           Ephraim Mathapo

 

SA Intellectually Impaired      –           Kirby Legoabe

SA Intellectually Impaired      –           Karabo Matlakala

SA Intellectually Impaired      –           Brendan Engelbrecht

SA Intellectually Impaired      –           Sello Ndima

SA Intellectually Impaired      –           Puseletso Modimola

SA Intellectually Impaired      –           Mzwandile Mhlongo

 

 

SA Women                              –           Mignon du Preez

SA Women                              –           Marcia Letsoalo

SA Women                              –           Sunė Luus

SA Women                              –           Andrie Steyn

 

SA U17 Cubs Invitation            –           Jannaman Malan

SA U17 Cubs Invitation            –           Rivaldo Moonsamy

SA U17 Cubs Invitation            –           Stefan Klopper

 

SA Under 19 Girls                    –           Sunė Luus

SA Under 19 Girls                    –           Andrie Steyn

 

SA Under 19 Colts                   –           Dustin Melton

SA Under 19 Colts                   –           Rivaldo Moonsamy

SA Schools                               –           Driaan Bruwer

 

CSA Colts XI                             –           Tian Koekemoer

 

SA Under 19                            –           Driaan Bruwer

SA Under 19                            –           Aiden Markram

SA Under 19                            –           Corbyn Bosch

 

USSA Representation              –           Heinrich Klaasen

USSA Representation              –           Sean Nowak

USSA Representation              –           Douglas Hewitt

 

Women’s Cricket Awards

 

Best Bowler of the Year                                  –           Maggie Mphahlele

Best Batsman of the Year                               –           Mignon du Preez

Most Promising Player of the Year                –           Andrie Steyn

 

Best Senior Women’s Player of the Year       –           Maggie Mphahlele

 

Senior Provincial Awards

 

Best Senior Provincial Bowler of the Year     –           JP de Villiers

Best Senior Provincial Batsman of the Year   –           Shared :

Shershan Naidoo &

Heinrich Klaasen

 

Senior Provincial Player of the Year               –           JP de Villiers

 

 

Driving the 177km from Letaba to Punda Maria in a day is a real test of endurance. The far north of Kruger National Park is often incredibly hot in summer and flat mopaneveld stretches on for miles and miles, with birds few and far between.

Generally the birdlife is concentrated along the alluvial floodplains which are well-wooded, especially in the Shingwedzi region, and the mixed woodland on shale, particularly around Punda Maria.

And so it becomes very important to focus as soon as you hit an area that looks promising for birds because, after an hour on the tar road driving through stunted Mopane grassland, you don’t want to miss the sightings that do suddenly materialise.

March 9 was a case in point. Approaching Mopani camp in the middle of the day with the temperature reading 39°, my mind was definitely straying towards the ice-cold Coke I was so lusting for as I neared the turnoff to one of the newer Kruger Park camps.

The Shipandani stream crosses that turnoff, temporarily running parallel to the H1-6, and late summer rains meant there was a fair bit of water pooled up against the culvert. With long grass on the banks and an overhanging tree, it looked a likely spot for something interesting, so I stopped to scan the area carefully, thoughts of much-needed refreshment being put to the side.

And I’m glad I did. Amidst the other more common birds hanging around, I noticed the unmistakable blue flash of a kingfisher …

There being water around, my initial thought was obviously a Malachite, but this kingfisher was too big as it returned to its perch, a dead stick on the edge of the pool. How about a Halfcollared Kingfisher, which I had never seen before in Kruger Park, but which has been uncommonly recorded … ?

But the head was not blue, but a dirty whitish-grey in colour, and then I saw the chestnut belly and so it could only be the even scarcer Greyheaded Kingfisher, only my second sighting of this beautiful bird.

On such a sweltering day, it was unsurprising that this African migrant was bathing and preening. Suitably inspired, I was soon refreshing myself at Mopani camp before pressing on for Punda Maria.

With the waterholes full, there were sporadic patches of exciting bird activity: An excellent patch of flooded grassland around the N’warihlangari waterhole, 20km north-west of Shingwedzi, provided Orangebreasted Waxbill, a very rare bird in Kruger and a special sighting, just my third anywhere.

Eurasian Golden Oriole was spotted dashing along the tree-lined Nkokodzi River heading towards Shingwedzi, a Tawny Eagle was hanging around Bowkerkop and a Striped Cuckoo was calling and moving along the Tsendze River, providing an exciting close-up sighting at the Mooiplaas picnic site just outside Mopani.

The long day began at Letaba camp, which is an excellent birding spot in its own right because it is on the sizeable Letaba River and the woodland is full of well-established trees.

Blackbacked Puffback, Paradise Flycatcher, Yellowbreasted Apalis, Dusky Flycatcher and Redwinged Starling were all seen while packing up camp, while friendly Bushbuck, Tree Squirrels and Dwarf Mongoose also came by.

Driving north out of Letaba along the H1-6, there are several kilometres of river frontage to enjoy and I was able to add Little and Whitefronted Bee-Eaters, Emeraldspotted Wood Dove, Nile Crocodile, Goliath Heron, Black Stork, African Spoonbill and Yellowbilled Kite to the growing list.

As you cross the Tropic of Capricorn, 16km north-west of Mopani, the S144 turnoff to the north-east takes you into dry Mopane scrubveld. Having seen them before in this exact area, I was thinking Redcrested Korhaan could well be the next bird to tick off and hey presto! one male started his distinctive clicking call and was then found sheltering under a bush.

The beautiful Shingwedzi camp was unfortunately closed due to most of it being washed away in the previous floods (which is why my need for a Coke was so great at Mopani!), but a Southern Black Tit was picked up at the turnoff.

The open veld north of Shingwedzi has rank grasslands growing and this is perfect habitat for the Whitewinged Widow. Even better habitat was found the following day, 3.5km north of the S59 near Punda Maria, with hundreds roosting in the long grass there.

The wonderful thing about birding in Kruger Park is, of course, the incredible variety of birds that are drawn to the bushveld. The famous reserve is the centre of activity for more than 500 bird species.

And so, just before the tropical lushness of the N’warihlangari waterhole, one drives through an area of dry, stunted savanna grasssland, overgrazed as summer gives way to autumn, and Chestnutbacked Sparrowlark, a fairly uncommon bird to look out for in the eastern half of the park, made an appearance.

Sightings list

Brownbacked Tree Frog

Blackbacked Puffback

Bushbuck

Blackeyed Bulbul

Paradise Flycatcher

Tree Squirrel

Yellowbreasted Apalis

Impala

Little Swift

Dusky Flycatcher

Redwinged Starling

Dwarf Mongoose

Lappetfaced Vulture

Little Bee-Eater

Emeraldspotted Wood Dove

European Swallow

Blue Waxbill

Common Sandpiper

Nile Crocodile

Greenshank

Goliath Heron

Wiretailed Swallow

Whitefronted Bee-Eater

Hippopotamus

Wood Sandpiper

Blacksmith Plover

Egyptian Goose

Threebanded Plover

Black Stork

Redfaced Cisticola

Pied Kingfisher

African Spoonbill

Grey Heron

Yellowbilled Kite

Namaqua Dove

Striped Cuckoo

Southern Black Flycatcher

Cinnamonbreasted Rock Bunting

Carmine Bee-Eater

Blue Wildebeest

Swainson’s Francolin

Greater Blue-Eared Starling

Redbilled Woodhoopoe

Rattling Cisticola

Cape Turtle Dove

European Bee-Eater

Crested Francolin

Forktailed Drongo

Vervet Monkey

Redbilled Quelea

Southern Greyheaded Sparrow

Lilacbreasted Roller

Wahlberg’s Eagle

Bateleur

Greyheaded Kingfisher

Natal Francolin

Tawny Eagle

Redcrested Korhaan

European Golden Oriole

Southern Black Tit

Whitebacked Vulture

European Roller

Whitewinged Widow

Elephant

Buffalo

Lesser Grey Shrike

Sabota Lark

Redbacked Shrike

Yellowbilled Hornbill

Longtailed Shrike

Arrowmarked Babbler

Laughing Dove

Plains Zebra

Greater Kudu

Giraffe

Grey Hornbill

Grey Lourie

Waterbuck

Wattled Starling

Brown Snake Eagle

Woodland Kingfisher

Glossy Starling

Fantailed Cisticola

Marabou Stork

Blackshouldered Kite

Slender Mongoose

Chestnutbacked Sparrowlark

Orangebreasted Waxbill

 

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer on Monday added veterans Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield and Heinrich Brussow, as well as eight uncapped players, to his plans as he announced a 36-man squad to attend a national training camp in Durban from May 25 to 28.

The returns of Matfield – the second-most capped Springbok of all time with 110 Tests – and Burger (68 Tests) will provide an injury-hit South African team with plenty of experience as they head into a challenging series against Wales and another Rugby Championship campaign beyond that.

Hookers Scarra Ntubeni and Chiliboy Ralepelle, prop Frik Kirsten, locks Pieter-Steph du Toit and Franco van der Merwe, loose forwards Arno Botha and Pierre Spies, scrumhalf Louis Schreuder, utility backs Pat Lambie and Gio Aplon, and centre Jaque Fourie are all out with injury.

The 37-year-old Matfield made a controversial return to rugby this year, having last played in the 2011 World Cup, but has performed with aplomb for the Bulls, stamping his usual mark on the lineouts and also showing good work-rate.

With all the other locks in the squad – except for Flip van der Merwe – still making their way in international rugby, Matfield will be one of the adults amongst all the young, talented children and will have an important role in guiding them through the crucial year before the World Cup, which is often a fraught one for Springbok teams.

Although Meyer is better off in terms of loose forward stocks, the return of Burger, who has shown glimpses of his old high-energy destructiveness for the Stormers, should be welcomed.

“Victor and Schalk have been out of rugby for a long time. They’ve really been in great form recently and the fact that they have not been with the Boks for more than two years has made them hungry for Test rugby yet again,” Meyer said.

“It’s great to welcome them back into the Springbok fold and I know both of them can still add a lot of value to the team with the Rugby World Cup in 2015 looming.

“This is a very big year for us and the players know they will have to step up a gear, be sharp and focused from the moment we get going in Durban. We have 14 very challenging matches ahead in 2014 and it’s imperative that we build on what was a good season last year.

“It’s important that we start building continuity because there are just 18 matches left until the Rugby World Cup starts. But it’s just as important to recognise continuous good form. We also have a number of players struggling with injury niggles or returning from injury which we have to assess.”

Meyer has made it clear before that he does not care for public pressure to select anyone, but the inclusion of Brussow will also be welcomed. Whether there is a place for the pocket dynamo in Meyer’s back row remains to be seen, however.

Duane Vermeulen and Willem Alberts are certainties for the number eight and seven jerseys, while Meyer is unlikely to jettison Bath’s Francois Louw (European-based players were not considered for this squad) after his superb displays for the Springboks last year.

Marcell Coetzee, Burger and Siya Kolisi are probably all ahead of Brussow in the queue as well, leaving him and Bulls rookie Jacques du Plessis, and even Cheetahs lock/flank Teboho Mohoje, to fight over scraps.

Meyer has kept the transformation police happy by selecting 10 players of colour, including six Black Africans, while the fresh blood in the squad is provided by centre/wing Damian de Allende, flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff, lock Lood de Jager, wing Cornal Hendricks, wing/centre S’Bura Sithole, flank Jacques du Plessis, lock/flank Teboho Mohoje and prop Marcel van der Merwe.

“A few new players have put up their hands, which is good to see with the first match of the season, against the World XV in Cape Town, only a few weeks away,” said Meyer.

“It’s very encouraging to see a bunch of new players emerging from Vodacom SuperRugby. This camp will provide us with a great opportunity to work with these players before the squad for the Castle Lager Incoming Series is finalised. I am looking forward to work with these players for the first time,” the coach said.

The contentious areas when it comes to the final selection of the squad for the incoming series would appear to be tighthead prop, lock, scrumhalf, centre and wing. Hooker is a worry in that only two have been named – Bismarck du Plessis and Adriaan Strauss – and while their quality is undeniable, Meyer will be terrified of one of them getting injured.

The Sharks front row of the two Du Plessis brothers and Tendai Mtawarira are certain starters, but who the back-up to old warhorse Jannie will be remains to be seen.

The Cheetahs scrum has laboured in recent weeks with Coenie Oosthuizen at tighthead and one hopes that the experiment is called off and the destructive 25-year-old is allowed to return to loosehead, particularly with the rise of the promising Frans Malherbe and Marcel van der Merwe in the number three jersey.

Flip van der Merwe, young star Eben Etzebeth and Matfield would appear to be certainties for the squad, but if a fourth lock is chosen, who will it be? Will Meyer once again call on Bakkies Botha, who seems to have regained the enthusiasm of his teen years while playing in France?

Fourie du Preez was typically influential in his five Tests last year and is surely the first-choice scrumhalf. Francois Hougaard was unimpressive when the Bulls were struggling overseas, but seems to be regaining some form in recent weeks.

Ruan Pienaar was nominated for the European Rugby Player of the Year award last month and will probably be the back-up to Du Preez.

Jean de Villiers was richly praised for both his captaincy and play at inside centre by Meyer last year, but the 2013 SA Rugby Player of the Year could be in for a move due to the return of Frans Steyn after a year of injuries.

Steyn was used exclusively in the number 12 jersey by Meyer in 2012 and it seems clear that Morne Steyn and Johan Goosen will be the Springbok flyhalves this year, so perhaps De Villiers will shift to outside centre to accommodate the 2007 World Cup winner and offer an exceptionally experienced midfield, even with Jaque Fourie likely to be out of action for the entire Test season with an ankle injury.

Willie le Roux looks set to continue as the Bok fullback, there being no other specialist contenders in the squad, while Sharks wing Lwazi Mvovo has deservedly been called up after an impressive SuperRugby campaign.

There is an abundance of outside-back talent for Meyer to choose from, with the classy JP Pietersen joined in the squad by Bulls talents JJ Engelbrecht and Jan Serfontein, the in-form De Allende and Juan de Jongh from the Stormers, Bjorn Basson, Cornal Hendricks and S’Bura Sithole.

Wing Bryan Habana, flank Francois Louw and scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar should all join the squad once they have been released from their European clubs, with prop Gurthro Steenkamp and lock Bakkies Botha also possibly on Meyer’s wish-list.

Where Meyer seems to be heading is the following final squad for the Incoming Series –

• Fullback: Willie le Roux
• Wings: JP Pietersen, Bryan Habana, Lwazi Mvovo, Bjorn Basson/Damian de Allende
• Centres: Jean de Villiers, Frans Steyn, Jan Serfontein, JJ Engelbrecht
• Flyhalves: Morne Steyn, Johan Goosen
• Scrumhalves: Fourie du Preez, Ruan Pienaar, Francois Hougaard
• Eighthman: Duane Vermeulen
• Loose forwards: Willem Alberts, Francois Louw, Marcell Coetzee, Schalk Burger, Siya Kolisi
• Locks: Flip van der Merwe, Eben Etzebeth, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha/Lood de Jager
• Props: Jannie du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Frans Malherbe/Coenie Oosthuizen/Gurthro Steenkamp
• Hookers: Bismarck du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss

The players who can consider themselves unfortunate to have just missed out on the squad are Ryan Kankowski and Warren Whiteley, the form eighthmen in South Africa after Vermeulen, and Stormers loose forward Nizaam Carr, while Sharks scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and Bulls lock Paul Willemse are stars of the future whose time will surely come.

Springbok training squad: Willie le Roux, JP Pietersen, JJ Engelbrecht, Cornal Hendricks, S’Bura Sithole, Jean de Villiers, Jan Serfontein, Juan de Jongh, Frans Steyn, Damian de Allende, Lwazi Mvovo, Bjorn Basson, Johan Goosen, Marnitz Boshoff, Fourie du Preez, Francois Hougaard, Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts, Schalk Burger, Jacques du Plessis, Marcell Coetzee, Siya Kolisi, Heinrich Brussow, Flip van der Merwe, Victor Matfield, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Teboho Mohoje, Jannie du Plessis, Frans Malherbe, Coenie Oosthuizen, Marcel van der Merwe, Bismarck du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane.