The Springboks are making their first moves since clinching their record-breaking fourth Rugby World Cup victory, and these have been the biggest talking point since the announcement.
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The best succession planning
Succession planning hasn't always been the Springboks' strongest suit, at least until the arrival of Rassie Erasmus in 2018. Nowadays, it is one of the key areas of the game that South Africa excels at.
Of the 43 players invited to the upcoming conditioning camp, 27 have Test match experience, only 19 of the 33 World Cup winning team qualify, and 16 players are uncapped. It becomes. Overall, 39 players are based locally in his five big franchises in the Republic, with the remaining four operating in Japan.
These are just the numbers behind the expansion team carefully assembled by Rassie Erasmus.
The composition of the team speaks to an absolutely and undoubtedly unparalleled depth of players across a variety of positions. The Springboks have proven they have no shortage of front-row players, but have brought in an additional five uncapped scrum specialists (four hookers and one prop) to further strengthen that department. did.
The Springboks' midfield and center players Damian de Allende, Lucanyo Am and Jesse Kriel are another strength for South Africa. However, the additions of players such as Suleiman Hartzenberg, Henko van Wyk and Sascha Feinberg-Mgomezulu are not only a sign that Erasmus and others are seeking current success, but also a long-term goal for Springbok rugby. It shows that you are also committed to your future success.
This is very similar to the start of Project 2027 (when the next World Cup will be held).
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Form was not the only barometer for selecting this particular group
Well, much has been said and written about the first group of players that Rassie Erasmus invited to start his second stint as Springbok head coach.
Many columns have been devoted to dissecting and analyzing the composition of the 43-man group, but one thing is abundantly clear. That said, form wasn't the only barometer used in the selection process.
If so, Stormers' Hajiba Deimani would be the first name on Rassie's list, followed closely by Bulls duo Embrose Papier and Acker van der Merwe, and Lions pair Asenathy Ntlabakanie and Franke. Horns and the like would have followed.
All of the players listed above have a good case for being in the top five of URC's most in-form players, but they were all ignored in their first tune-up camp.
But that doesn't mean they aren't part of Rassie Erasmus' plans beyond this first gathering. In any case, an invitation to his camp for training does not automatically lead to his cap for the test.
More conditioning camps will be held as the Test rugby season approaches, starting in July. And as long as the uninvited Springbok hopefuls continue to create buzz for their rugby and maintain their excellent form, they are likely to open the door. Eventually the hinge will come off.
Also read | Lassie invites 16 uncapped players to Springbok camp!
The Cheetahs remain an important cog in South African rugby.
For too long in recent history, the Cheetahs have been treated as the ugly stepchildren of South African rugby.
It has been some time since the Cheetahs player, who left Super Rugby and then the Pro16 (now known as URC), was considered for selection by the Springboks.
This was largely due to the Cheetahs' lack of competitiveness, which limited the players' playing time. However, with the selection of Marnus van der Merwe, manager Rassie Erasmus has ensured that no talented player falls through the cracks under his watch and that everyone is happy to be part of the Springbok environment. It showed that we can be given the opportunity to experience something.
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Springboks appear at alignment camp!
Invite uncapped players:
name | Year | position | team |
Luan Ventel | twenty two | side | lions |
Jan-Hendrik Wessels | twenty two | hooker | Bull |
Mpilo Gumede | twenty three | side | shark |
Henko van Wyk | twenty two | center | lions |
Sanele Nohamba | twenty five | Scrumhalf/flyhalf | lions |
Jordan Hendrickse | twenty two | fly half | lions |
morn van den berg | 26 | scrum half | lions |
Quan Hong | twenty two | full back | lions |
Johan Gravelar | 26 | hooker | Bull |
Suleiman Hartzenberg | 20 | center | stormers |
Neethling Fouche | 31 | prop | stormers |
Andre Hugo Ventel | twenty two | hooker | stormers |
Marnus van der Merwe | 27 | hooker | Cheetah |
ruben van heerden | 26 | rock | stormers |
Sasha Feinberg-Mgomezulu | twenty one | flyhalf/center | stormers |