RugbyRebels

Here's the Springboks squad for the Rugby Championships

Hookers
Malcolm Marx (Lions)
Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers)
Adriaan Strauss (Captain, Bulls)

Props
Steven Kitshoff (Bordeaux)
Vincent Koch (Stormers)
Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)
Trevor Nyakane (Bulls)

Locks
Lood de Jager (Cheetahs)
Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers)
Eben Etzebeth (Stormers)
Franco Mostert (Lions)

Loose Forwards
Jaco Kriel (Lions)
Francois Louw (Bath)
Teboho Mohoje (Cheetahs)
Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Stormers)
Julian Redelinghuys (Lions)
Duane Vermeulen (Toulon)
Warren Whiteley (Lions)

Halfbacks
Faf de Klerk (Lions)
Francois Hougaard (Worcester Warriors)
Rudy Paige (Bulls)

Five-Eighths
Johan Goosen (Racing Metro)
Elton Jantjies (Lions)
Morne Steyn (Stade Francais)

Midfield
Damian de Allende (Stormers)
Juan de Jongh (Stormers)
Jesse Kriel (Bulls)
Lionel Mapoe (Lions)

Back Three
Ruan Combrinck (Lions)
Bryan Habana (Toulon)
Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks)


Pretty bold call not to pick any specialist fullbacks. Presumably that would mean fullback will be covered by one of Kriel, Goosen and Steyn, with Frans Hougaard also covering wing since they've all spent time in those alternate positions in the fairly recent past. Also keep in mind that Frans Steyn had also been present at the training camp, and as far as I can tell, was the only one to get culled.

Didn't Combrinck play full back against Ireland for at least a bit?

He might have, but I don't recall him starting many games. Mind you, it's not like I make a regular habit of waking up at 3 am to watch the South African games in Super Rugby, so for all I know, he could have spent some time at 15 for the Lions.

And I just noticed I misspelled fullback in the title. Damnit.

Whenever I see Frans Steyn he still seems to have it all, it seems odd to me he's not a certain starter but maybe hes not that consistent?

Mikey Brown wrote:Whenever I see Frans Steyn he still seems to have it all, it seems odd to me he's not a certain starter but maybe hes not that consistent?

He probably would have played at the RWC last year, but was released from the Boks squad on compassionate grounds. This year though, just seems an odd call and I guess he doesn't fit whatever plan Coetzee has envisioned for the team.