As we look forward to the first of the SA v England clashes at Kings Park on 9 June, the nation (and the competition) mull over the squad selected by Heyneke Meyer and his team.
In the photo: Brian Habana has 74 Springbok caps under his belt
“We were always looking to start the season with an experienced squad to face England,” Meyer told Sport24, “but injuries to certain players and the non-availability of others have made it difficult.”
“What we‘ve lost in experience, we’ve made up in passion and desire to play for the Springboks.”
“We have put together a squad with a nice balance between a number of veterans and players with less experience as we start to build for the rest of the season.”
“Working with these players during our four Planning Camps this season has been great and really made a very difficult selection process a bit easier. There were a few unlucky players that didn’t make it and they will get opportunities in future as long as they keep on knocking on the door.”
The line-up is as follows:
BACKS
Zane Kirchner (Bulls), JP Pietersen (Sharks), JJ Engelbrecht (Bulls), Jean de Villiers (Stormers), Wynand Olivier (Bulls), Francois Steyn (Racing Metro/FRA), Bryan Habana (Stormers), Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), Bjorn Basson (Bulls), Morne Steyn (Bulls), Patrick Lambie (Sharks), Elton Jantjies (Golden Lions), Francois Hougaard (Bulls), Jano Vermaak (Bulls), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster/IRL)
FORWARDS
Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs), Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls), Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), Werner Kruger (Bulls), Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), Flip van der Merwe (Bulls), Franco van der Merwe (Lions), Juandre Kruger (Bulls), Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), Willem Alberts (Sharks), Pierre Spies (Bulls), Ryan Kankowski (Sharks), Keegan Daniel (Sharks), Jacques Potgieter (Bulls)
To book your tickets to watch SA v England, visit www.computicket.com