The 15 Springboks that have returned to South Africa in the last 12 months
Most of South Africa’s top teams have been bolstered by loads of Springbok experience as some big names have decided to return home after overseas commitments. No fewer than 15 Springboks – with a combined total of 522 Test caps worth of experience between them – have opted to return to South Africa in the last year.
The Bulls have been very busy bolstering their playing stocks with experienced Springboks.
Morne Steyn (66 caps), who made more than 100 appearances for Stade Francais, and Juandre Kruger (17 caps), who was with Racing Metro and Toulon in France, and Scarlets in Wales, returned to Loftus Versfeld before the start of the 2020 Super Rugby season, and they have since been joined by a further six Springboks.
Joining Steyn and Kruger at Loftus Versfeld will be Duane Vermeulen (54 caps), Gio Aplon (17 caps), Marcel van der Merwe (seven caps), Nizaam Carr (five caps), Arno Botha (two caps) and Travis Ismaiel (one cap).
Vermeulen, a World Cup winner with the Boks last year and a former Toulon star, will again don the famous light blue jersey after opting to return to South Africa from Japan, where he was playing club rugby for Kubota Spears until the COVID-19 pandemic shook the world.
The experienced Aplon, a former BlitzBok and Western Province star, spent the last six years abroad, playing for Grenoble in France and Toyota Verblitz in Japan.
Carr, like Aplon a favourite in Cape Town earlier in his career, was with Wasps in England from 2017, while Van der Merwe (Toulon in France), Botha (London Irish in England and Munster in Ireland) and Ismaiel (Harlequins in England) are all back in Pretoria, where they played before packing their bags to experience life in Europe.
Looking at some of the other teams, first to have their passports stamped by local customs were JP Pietersen and Ruan Pienaar, who returned to South Africa last year during the Currie Cup after nine years with Ulster in Ireland and Montpellier in France.
Pietersen, with 70 Test caps to his name, linked up with his former Sharks teammates in Durban from French club Toulon, while Pienaar (88 caps) played a pivotal part as the Free State Cheetahs ended up winning the Currie Cup.
Double World Cup-winner Frans Steyn (67 caps) “followed” Pienaar to Bloemfontein recently as he signed with the Cheetahs after a number of years of playing club rugby in France (Racing Metro and Montpellier) and Japan (Toshiba Brave Lupus).
Jannie du Plessis – a teammate of Pietersen, Pienaar and Steyn in the Springbok squad that won the Rugby World Cup in France in 2007 – has also found his way back home and joined the Lions in Johannesburg earlier this year from Montpellier in France.
The experienced Du Plessis (70 caps) was joined in Johannesburg by three more Bok forwards in Willem Alberts (43 caps from Stade Francais in France), as well as Jaco Kriel (11 caps) and Ruan Dreyer (four caps), both of whom played for Gloucester in England.
TRANSFERS
French clubs tightening belts (cough, cough)… A composite XV of new entrants into the #Top14 https://t.co/Lsq41nffbe
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 18, 2020
Source: Rugby 365/SA Rugby
Comments on RugbyPass
Blackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
9 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
9 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
2 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
2 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
9 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
9 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
9 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
9 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
9 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
9 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to comments