Only four Bulls players selected for the SA ‘A’ team
Only four players from the Bulls have been selected for the SA ‘A’ team that will play against the French Barbarians in June.
Experienced Springboks Trevor Nyakane, Ruan Combrinck, Juan de Jongh and Lionel Mapoe will lead the charge for the SA ‘A’ team when they face the French Barbarians in two matches in Durban and Soweto next month.
Nyakane is one of only four Bulls players who made the team. The other three are Jason Jenkins, Jamba Ulengo and Warrick Gelant.
Apart from these four Springboks in the 26-man squad, the national selectors also added a host of promising players in the group to face the French visitors.
The SA ‘A’ side will again be coached by Lions coach Johan Ackermann, who was also in charge when the team played against the England Saxons last season.
Springbok coach Allister Coetzee said he was excited by the next crop of players coming through the ranks.
“I think we have a brilliant mix of experienced players who have tasted what Test rugby is all about already, and very promising prospects youngsters who will be pushing for higher honours in the not too distant future. In my view, there is definitely a lot of value in having players with Test experience playing with these exciting prospects, who along with the Junior Springboks represent the future of South Arica rugby,” said Coetzee.
Combrinck, who missed the Springbok tour of the United Kingdom and Italy at the end of 2016 because of injury, is part of an exciting-looking backline. He made an impressive Super Rugby comeback last weekend for the Lions against the Bulls in Johannesburg.
Other SA ‘A’ squad members who have represented the Springboks at Test level include Nyakane (prop, Bulls), De Jongh (centre, Stormers), Mapoe (centre, Lions), Uzair Cassiem (flank, Cheetahs), Jean-Luc du Preez (flank, Sharks), Francois Venter (centre, Cheetahs) and Jamba Ulengo (wing, Bulls).
They are joined by exciting youngsters such as Ox Nche (prop, Cheetahs), Thomas du Toit (prop, Sharks), Jason Jenkins (lock, Bulls), Chris Cloete (flank, Pumas/Southern Kings), Andisa Ntsila (loose forward, Southern Kings) and Makazole Mapimpi (wing, Southern Kings).
The SA ‘A’ squad to take on the French Barbarians:
Forwards: Ruan Botha (lock, Sharks), Uzair Cassiem (loose forward, Cheetahs), Chris Cloete (loose forward, Southern Kings), Thomas du Toit (prop Sharks), Andries Ferreira (lock Lions), Jason Jenkins (lock, Bulls), Wilco Louw (prop, Stormers), Jean-Luc du Preez (loose forward, Sharks), Franco Marais (hooker, Sharks), Ox Nche (prop, Cheetahs), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (loose forward, Stormers), Andisa Ntsila (loose forward, Southern Kings), Trevor Nyakane (prop, Bulls), Ramone Samuels (hooker, Stormers).
Backs: Ruan Combrinck (wing, Lions), Lionel Cronje (flyhalf, Southern Kings), Juan de Jongh (centre, Stormers), Warrick Gelant (fullback, Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (wing, Southern Kings), Lionel Mapoe (centre, Lions), Dewaldt Duvenage (scrumhalf, Stormers), Jamba Ulengo (wing, Bulls) Francois Venter (centre, Cheetahs), Jano Vermaak (scrumhalf, Stormers), Harold Vorster (centre, Lions), Fred Zeilinga (flyhalf, Cheetahs).
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