Bulls scrum halves biggest omissions in Bok squad

Bulls scrum halves Embrose Papier and Ivan van Zyl, and, to a lesser extent, flanker Marco van Staden and Sharks utility back Curwin Bosch, are the biggest casualties after the Springbok squad training for the Rugby Championship next month was announced on Friday.

The four were not part of an additional 13 players called up to the ongoing camp of 26 players in Pretoria after the Bulls and the Sharks concluded their involvement in Super Rugby by losing their quarterfinals last weekend.

But, while there was a usual-suspects feel to the seven Bulls players, five Sharks and lone Bath representative (Francois Louw) called up, the most noticeable omissions have to have been the Bulls halfbacks, who last year were being groomed as Faf de Klerk’s understudies.

Papier and Van Zyl, who were used in a rotational manner at the Bulls, which did little to give either the security of feeling like the incumbent, until André Warner overtook both, have been replaced by the returning Cobus Reinach (Northampton Saints) and the irrepressible Stormers pocket dynamo Herschel Jantjies.

THE COMBACK KID Cobus Reinach of Northampton Saints has made a return to the Springbok team for the championship. Picture: David Rogers / Getty Images

Reinach got his opportunity to add to his 10 Springbok caps after making the English Premiership team of the year, being nominated for player of the year, being joint top try-scorer, and no small amount of local media and English media baying for his inclusion in the Springbok team.

Jantjies was supposed to be Jano Vermaak’s understudy in Super Rugby, but an injury to the veteran scrum half meant he played most of the games in the Stormers’ campaign, outplaying his Bulls counterparts throughout the season and, memorably, one after the other in the north-south derby at Newlands.

Openside flanker Van Staden’s case seems to have timed his run a little too late, having been injured for most of the Super Rugby season, only to put in inspired performances in the past two to three matches of the Bulls’ season (Louw is a surprise inclusion, given that, at times last year, he looked as if his legs had gone).

Fly half Bosch, who has had to deputise at fullback for most of the season while Sharks coach Robert du Preez preferred his son Rob at 10, has been a main talking point all season.

The understanding among rugby fans all along was that it was Du Preez senior who stood in his way of being in with a shout at Springbok level.

But even with some great performances on tour at fly half for the Sharks – one notably against the defending champion Crusaders – the 21-year-old’s fans might have to consider that Bok coach Rassie Erasmus is another who isn’t enamoured of his qualities at standoff.

Sharks lock Ruan Botha (foot), Dan du Preez (broken rib), Warren Whiteley and Damian Willemse (both knee), and Jan Serfontein (ankle) were listed as players who were not considered due to the injuries they are carrying.

Sharks flanker Jean-Luc du Preez also missed the past few games of the Super Rugby season through injury, but his not making that list of walking wounded would suggest he is another Erasmus doesn’t rate, having played earlier in the coach’s tenure and faded away thanks to a combination of lack of form and injury.

Bulls winger Cornal Hendricks – he of the dancing feet and extravagant goose-step – made a late run to add to his 12 Bok camps in his comeback year from a heart condition that retired him for three years, but, with Sbu Nkosi, Makazole Mapimpi, Cheslin Kolbe and Aphiwe Dyantyi already ahead of him, wing looks fully stocked up.

The full Bok squad commences training tomorrow.