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Toetie shows bold vision

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Jesse Kriel made it to new Springbok coach Allister Coetzee’s first team that will face Ireland  PHOTO: Steve Haag / Gallo Images
Jesse Kriel made it to new Springbok coach Allister Coetzee’s first team that will face Ireland PHOTO: Steve Haag / Gallo Images

A new coach, a new team and a new approach.

With the appointment of his first Springbok squad of 31 players, new Springbok coach Allister Coetzee last night sent out a clear signal that he is going to change the face of Springbok rugby.

The Bok squad symbolises a thorough transformation, because with 12 players of colour in the group it represents the largest number of black players in the team yet. It is also by far the largest number of ethnic black players to be included in a Bok squad of just 31 players.

Coetzee’s selection has raised a few eyebrows. The biggest surprise is the inclusion of Nic Groom as one of the three scrum halves.

The same applies with fly half Garth April, who is still inexperienced in Super Rugby.

The greater emphasis on form – with the inclusion of players such as Ruan Combrinck, Faf de Klerk and Julian Redelinghuys – indicates that Coetzee has a new vision for the team on the field.

And the calling up of smaller players such as the three fly halves – Elton Jantjies, Pat Lambie and April – shows a new approach that size is not everything. Lambie and April’s inclusion is somewhat unusual because they are both from the Sharks.

Lambie has not played for an extended time because of injury, and April is really just his replacement. Now the diminutive former pupil of Florida High School, in Johannesburg, has gained a place in the Bok squad with his more attacking approach.

Jantjies has been included despite an untimely finger injury, but Morné Steyn will be called on if he has not recovered sufficiently.

As daring is probably the inclusion of the Stormers loose forward, Sikhumbuzo Notshe. At just 22 years old, he is one of Coetzee’s inspiring choices to start afresh as a large number of Bok veterans have bid their farewells.

In addition, the coach’s commitment to transformation is apparent in the choice of his three hookers, Adriaan Strauss, Scarra Ntubeni and Bongi Mbonambi.

Ntubeni and Mbonambi are from the Stormers, which shows how intent Coetzee is about changing the face of the team during his term.

By choosing only Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw and Steven Kitshoff from the many overseas Boks, the coach is embarking on a new path with a selection policy that is more inclusive.

Zane Kirchner, Bryan Habana, Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Ruan Pienaar, Francois Louw and Schalk Brits are the overseas Boks who have not been given the nod.

A large number of players who were last year on the fringes of the Springbok team are not in Coetzee’s group.

They are Cornal Hendricks, Jaque Fourie, Cobus Reinach (injured), Marcell Coetzee (injured), Oupa Mohoje, Heinrich Brüssow, Franco Mostert, Flip van der Merwe, Vincent Koch, Marcel van der Merwe and Heinke van der Merwe.

And then there are the players who retired after the World Cup – Jean de Villiers, Fourie du Preez and Victor Matfield – whose rugby playing days are over.

Coetzee’s group includes nine member who have not played Test rugby before. They are Ntubeni, Mbonambi, Jaco Kriel, Kitshoff, Notshe, De Klerk, Groom, April and Combrinck.

The coach will have to make some interesting decisions about his halfback, centre and even front-row combinations in the next two weeks. Who to choose as Lambie’s halfback partner – out of Paige, De Klerk or Groom –, will be one of his toughest decisions.

The coach will also have to consider whether to find room for Lionel Mapoe in the midfield, after he missed the World Cup. It is also unlikely that he called Kitshoff back from France without good reason, and it will be interesting to see what his plans are with him and Redelinghuys in the front row.

The Stormers are best represented, with nine players in the group, followed by the Lions (7), Sharks (6), Bulls (5), Cheetahs (1), Bath (1), Toulon (1) and Bordeaux (1).

Exactly what Coetzee is planning with the captaincy of the team is still uncertain. He will only name his captain in the week of the first Test against Ireland. The Test is on June 11 at Newlands.

Vermeulen is still regarded as the favourite.

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