South African Rugby coach Heyneke Meyers has named a thirty-eight-strong group of players for a Springbok training camp ahead of the break for the June Internationals.
The squad features eight players who were not part of the first camp and will meet up in Durban for the second Springbok training camp.
The players who were not part of the first training camp in Cape Town in April are: Gio Aplon ( Stormers, wing/fullback), the Cheetahs’ trio of Trevor Nyakane (prop), Lappies Labuschagne (loose forward) and Willie le Roux (fullback/wing), Bulls duo of JJ Engelbrecht (centre/wing) and Lionel Mapoe (wing/centre), Wiehahn Herbst (The Sharks, prop) and Demetri Catrakilis (Southern Kings, flyhalf).
Seven injured players, who were part of Springbok squads in 2012, were not considered for selection as they will not be fit to play in June.
They are JP Pietersen, Jaco Taute, Frans Steyn, Johan Goosen, Duane Vermeulen, Pat Cilliers and Frans Malherbe. Furthermore Andries Bekker, who is not available due to club commitments later this season in Japan, wasn’t considered for selection.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer said he was impressed with the form of a number of the country’s top players, despite concerns about the high number of injuries to key players.
“It looks like most of the guys are improving weekly and a few new players have put up their hands, which is good to see with the first Test only a few weeks away,” said Meyer.
“We’ve also been very impressed with the form shown by a number of players since we were together in April. This camp will provide us with a great opportunity to work with these players before the squad for the Incoming Series is finalised.
“Overseas-based players were not considered for this camp as some of them are still playing in their respective finals this coming weekend. They are at the end of their seasons and need a well-deserved break before the start of the Incoming Series.”
The training squad will assemble in Durban on Sunday, a day after the highly anticipated Super Rugby derby between The Sharks and the Bulls at Kings Park.
All five South African franchises are in action on Saturday, 25 May – the Southern Kings host the Cheetahs in Port Elizabeth and the Stormers take on the Reds in Cape Town.
Players invited to the second Springbok training camp of 2013:
Forwards (19):
Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Jannie du Plessis, Coenie Oosthuizen, Wiehahn Herbst, Adriaan Strauss, Bismarck du Plessis, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Eben Etzebeth, Flip van der Merwe, Juandre Kruger, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Marcell Coetzee, Willem Alberts, Arno Botha, Lappies Labuschagne, Pierre Spies, Ryan Kankowski.
Backs (19):
Jano Vermaak, Francois Hougaard, Pat Lambie, Morne Steyn, Elton Jantjies, Demetri Catrakilis, Jean de Villiers, Juan de Jongh, Jan Serfontein, Robert Ebersohn, JJ Engelbrecht, Bryan Habana, Lwazi Mvovo, Raymond Rhule, Lionel Mapoe, Bjorn Basson, Gio Aplon, Zane Kirchner, Willie le Roux.