Bath's Butch James is one of the overseas players omitted

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has chosen not to pick any of the Springboks' overseas-based players for his squad to tour Britain in November.

De Villiers has overlooked Bath's Butch James, Toulon's Joe van Niekerk and Leinster's CJ van der Linde.

"Ruan Pienaar's earmarked as fly-half," said the Boks coach. "I'm looking to find James's long-term successor."

James has said he is considering retiring from international rugby after next year's Lions tour of South Africa.

The squad departs on 31 October, ahead of the first Test against Wales in Cardiff on 8 November, followed by Scotland at Murrayfield and England at Twickenham.

"We decided against selecting players from overseas on this occasion as they know they can slot in at any time," added De Villiers.

"We felt that the time is right to give players like Ruan Pienaar an opportunity and we will be looking at John Smit as a tight-head on this tour."

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to the Springboks squad

Four other Tri-Nations squad players are missing, with hooker Adriaan Strauss and fly-half Peter Grant overlooked, while full-back Percy Montgomery has retired from Test rugby and flanker Luke Watson withdrew after a dispute with the South African Rugby Union.

De Villiers believes the British tour will play a key part in the Springboks' preparations for the Lions tour.

"With the British and Irish Lions heading to South Africa in just a few months these Tests are as important as any we have undertaken since our readmission in 1992," he said.

The squad, which will be captained by Smit, includes two uncapped players - Free State Cheetahs flanker Heinrich Brussow and Golden Lions fly-half Earl Rose.

"Earl's form may have dipped at times but he has the 'X' factor you look for in a fly-half and he has time to develop, while Heinrich has really burst onto the scene and is outstanding at contesting at the breakdown," said the Boks coach.

De Villiers also recalled four players who have recovered from injuries - centre Jaque Fourie, number eight Ryan Kankowski, lock Bakkies Botha and hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle, who earns his first call-up in two years.

South Africa squad to tour Britain in November
Forwards: Andries Bekker, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger, Heinrich Brussow, Bismarck du Plessis, Ryan Kankowski, Victor Matfield, Tendai Mtawarira, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Brian Mujati, Danie Rossouw, John Smit (captain), Juan Smith, Pierre Spies, Gurthro Steenkamp.

Backs: Jean de Villiers, Fourie du Preez, Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana, Adrian Jacobs, Conrad Jantjes, Enrico Januarie, Jongi Nokwe, Odwa Ndungane, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Earl Rose, Francois Steyn.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version