The Springboks have recalled fly-half Morne Steyn and utility back Francois Steyn to their preliminary 46-man squad ahead of the Lions Tour to South Africa.
34-year-old Francois Steyn, a veteran of the 2007 and 2019 South African World Cup-winning sides, played in all three Lions tests in 2009. 36-year-old Morne Steyn was instrumental in the Springboks series victory, kicking the winning points in the second test and launching what would prove to be a prosperous international career.
Morne Steyn holds numerous international records for the Springboks and is currently the fastest South African to reach 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 points for his country.
Until recently, both men had experienced successful spells in France – Francois at Montpellier and Morne at Stade Francais, before returning to play in South Africa for the Cheetahs and Bulls, respectively.
There are also places in the squad for 6 Gallagher Premiership players, with five from the Sale Sharks (Coenie Oosthuizen, Faf de Klerk, Lood de Jager, Jean-Luc du Preez and Dan du Preez) and one from Leicester Tigers (Jasper Wiese). Wiese’s inclusion is exciting, with the loose forward impressing this season behind a dominant Tiger’s pack. His inclusion comes at the expense of the highly touted Marcel Coetzee, whose omission was one of the few shocks in the squad announcement.
The squad is dominated by members of the Springboks’ 2019 World Cup-winning player group, excluding retired members such as Tendai Mtawarira, Schalk Brits, Francois Louw, and the injured Warwick Gelant. Elsewhere, there are opportunities for eight uncapped players in new Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber’s squad. Nienaber has matched experience with fresh blood as he looks to prepare the Springboks for the crucial upcoming series.
Fixtures:
The Springboks will play two warm-up games against Georgia on July 2nd and July 9th before facing the Lions in three test matches: the first on July 24th in Cape Town and the second and third on July 31st and August 7th in Johannesburg.
Full Springbok Squad:
Props: Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks), Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), Vincent Koch (Saracens), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls), Coenie Oosthuizen (Sale Sharks).
Hookers: Joseph Dweba (Bordeaux-Bègles), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers), Scarra Ntubeni (DHL Stormers).
Locks: Lood de Jager (Sale Sharks), Eben Etzebeth (Toulon), Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (Montpellier), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers), RG Snyman (Munster).
Back Rowers: Dan du Preez (Sale Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers), Siya Kolisi (Cell C Sharks), Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Duane Vermeulen (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse).
Scrum Halves: Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks), Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), Sanele Nohamba (Cell C Sharks), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier).
Fly Halves: Elton Jantjies (Pau), Handre Pollard (Montpellier), Morne Steyn (Vodacom Bulls).
Centres: Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks), Damian de Allende (Munster), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Wandisile Simelane (Emirates Lions), Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs).
Wingers/Fullbacks: Aphelele Fassi (Cell C Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), Sbu Nkosi (Cell C Sharks), Yaw Penxe (Cell C Sharks), Rosko Specman (Toyota Cheetahs), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).
Who will be the key players for the Springboks on the 2021 Lions Tour of South Africa? Is there anyone that should have made the squad and didn’t? Please comment below with your thoughts.