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Let me follow in @TRF Mr Fish 's footsteps and do the same for the Springboks.
2016 is a new era for South African Rugby. We are all aware of the negativity surrounding SARU, Jurie Roux, Oregon Hoskins and the problems they are facing. Then there is the whole debacle of the Quota system and the implementation thereof. And lastly, no Springbok coach (yet). This last point brings up a lot of questions and very few answers...
But enough of the negativity, let's look at the candidates for Springbok this year. Firstly, I'll put up the players that are currently in the Springbok mix.
Loosehead Prop
Trevor Nyakane, Beast Mtawarira, Coenie Oosthuizen, Julian Redelinghuys
Hooker
Adriaan Strauss, Scarra Ntubeni
Tighthead Prop
Marcel van der Merwe, Frans Malherbe, Vincent Koch.
Lock
Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph Du Toit, Lood De Jager
Flanker
Schalk Burger, Marcel Coetzee
No. 8
Warren Whiteley, Arno Botha
Scrumhalf
Rudy Paige, Cobus Reinach
Flyhalf
Handre Pollard and Pat Lambie will miss the entire Super Rugby Tournament, so this position is most likely going to have a new face for the Bokke.
Winger
Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen and Cornal Hendricks won't be playing Super Rugby, and Francois Hougaard is with the 7's and then joining Worcester later. Also new faces to show here.
Centres
Jan Serfontein, Jesse Kriel, Lionel Mapoe
Fullback
Willie Le Roux
Now the new faces/candidates who could/might feature. And here I'm not going to take the quota system into consideration, I'm just going to state who I think has a good shot at becoming a springbok.
Props
This is the position I'm most looking forward to seeing how the youngster go about their business. there's about 2 - 3 props in each of the SA teams that will make their debuts. I think a strong contender will be Ox from the Bulls (no pun intended) and the Lions props.
Hooker
This is probably the position where we need to strengthen our ranks, I hope Malcolm Marx shows us what he really can do after so much hype from his fellow players and coach. But his strongest competitor is Robbie Coetzee who will battle it out for the Lions (and most probably the Springboks) jersey.
Locks
The dawn of a new era. I think Marvin Orie, Jean Kleyn and Franco Mostert are going to show us that they are all springbok material to join the big 3.
Flanker
Jaco Kriel. Why he isn't a bok yet is beyond my comprehension, but I hope he makes it this year. Nizam Carr, the Du Preez brothers and Notshe have all shown us what they can do during the Currie Cup, I just wonder how the younger guys will go about in Super Rugby. Then a forgotten member returns in the shape of Keegan Daniel(s). I hope he's heavier...
No. 8
No more Pierre Spies. Most of the flankers I mentioned can/has played at no 8 too.
Scrumhalf
Faf de Klerk & Guy Cronje. Maybe Nic Groom/Jano Vermaak?
Fly half
Elton Jantjies seems to be the favourite to fill the gap the 2 injured FH's have left. But there will be some competition from Sias Ebersohn (back from the Force, now with the Cheetahs), Marnitz Boshoff (who can also play fullback), Tiaan Schoeman (Showed in the Currie Cup he's not just a kicking fly half), Robert Du Preez (Had a couple of good and bad moments during the CC). And then Peter Grant (he's playing for the Force, but is nonetheless still a contender for this spot).
Centre
Burger Odendaal, Paul Jordaan, Stefan Watermeyer, Stokkies Hanekom, JP Du Plessis & Howard Mnisi. These guys are the ones I'm keeping an eye out for making Springbok in probably the toughest position to get a spot in the Springbok team.
Winger
Jamba Ulengo, Malcolm Jaer, Raymond Rhule, Sbura Sithole, Sergeal Petersen, Seabelo Senatla. Let's see which flyer shows us the most!
Fullback
Cheslin Kolbe, Warwick Gelant, Andries Coetzee and Marnitz Boshoff could be Le Roux's understudy. All of them are pretty well rounded, it's just that their defence is at times a bit shaky.
I know my fellow Saffas will throw in a few other names, and please don't hesitate to do so. It's always fun to see which players impresses certain posters. We need something to keep us motivated, as everything else in our country is going down the crapper!
2016 is a new era for South African Rugby. We are all aware of the negativity surrounding SARU, Jurie Roux, Oregon Hoskins and the problems they are facing. Then there is the whole debacle of the Quota system and the implementation thereof. And lastly, no Springbok coach (yet). This last point brings up a lot of questions and very few answers...
But enough of the negativity, let's look at the candidates for Springbok this year. Firstly, I'll put up the players that are currently in the Springbok mix.
Loosehead Prop
Trevor Nyakane, Beast Mtawarira, Coenie Oosthuizen, Julian Redelinghuys
Hooker
Adriaan Strauss, Scarra Ntubeni
Tighthead Prop
Marcel van der Merwe, Frans Malherbe, Vincent Koch.
Lock
Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph Du Toit, Lood De Jager
Flanker
Schalk Burger, Marcel Coetzee
No. 8
Warren Whiteley, Arno Botha
Scrumhalf
Rudy Paige, Cobus Reinach
Flyhalf
Handre Pollard and Pat Lambie will miss the entire Super Rugby Tournament, so this position is most likely going to have a new face for the Bokke.
Winger
Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen and Cornal Hendricks won't be playing Super Rugby, and Francois Hougaard is with the 7's and then joining Worcester later. Also new faces to show here.
Centres
Jan Serfontein, Jesse Kriel, Lionel Mapoe
Fullback
Willie Le Roux
Now the new faces/candidates who could/might feature. And here I'm not going to take the quota system into consideration, I'm just going to state who I think has a good shot at becoming a springbok.
Props
This is the position I'm most looking forward to seeing how the youngster go about their business. there's about 2 - 3 props in each of the SA teams that will make their debuts. I think a strong contender will be Ox from the Bulls (no pun intended) and the Lions props.
Hooker
This is probably the position where we need to strengthen our ranks, I hope Malcolm Marx shows us what he really can do after so much hype from his fellow players and coach. But his strongest competitor is Robbie Coetzee who will battle it out for the Lions (and most probably the Springboks) jersey.
Locks
The dawn of a new era. I think Marvin Orie, Jean Kleyn and Franco Mostert are going to show us that they are all springbok material to join the big 3.
Flanker
Jaco Kriel. Why he isn't a bok yet is beyond my comprehension, but I hope he makes it this year. Nizam Carr, the Du Preez brothers and Notshe have all shown us what they can do during the Currie Cup, I just wonder how the younger guys will go about in Super Rugby. Then a forgotten member returns in the shape of Keegan Daniel(s). I hope he's heavier...
No. 8
No more Pierre Spies. Most of the flankers I mentioned can/has played at no 8 too.
Scrumhalf
Faf de Klerk & Guy Cronje. Maybe Nic Groom/Jano Vermaak?
Fly half
Elton Jantjies seems to be the favourite to fill the gap the 2 injured FH's have left. But there will be some competition from Sias Ebersohn (back from the Force, now with the Cheetahs), Marnitz Boshoff (who can also play fullback), Tiaan Schoeman (Showed in the Currie Cup he's not just a kicking fly half), Robert Du Preez (Had a couple of good and bad moments during the CC). And then Peter Grant (he's playing for the Force, but is nonetheless still a contender for this spot).
Centre
Burger Odendaal, Paul Jordaan, Stefan Watermeyer, Stokkies Hanekom, JP Du Plessis & Howard Mnisi. These guys are the ones I'm keeping an eye out for making Springbok in probably the toughest position to get a spot in the Springbok team.
Winger
Jamba Ulengo, Malcolm Jaer, Raymond Rhule, Sbura Sithole, Sergeal Petersen, Seabelo Senatla. Let's see which flyer shows us the most!
Fullback
Cheslin Kolbe, Warwick Gelant, Andries Coetzee and Marnitz Boshoff could be Le Roux's understudy. All of them are pretty well rounded, it's just that their defence is at times a bit shaky.
I know my fellow Saffas will throw in a few other names, and please don't hesitate to do so. It's always fun to see which players impresses certain posters. We need something to keep us motivated, as everything else in our country is going down the crapper!
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