Dolly the Bok bolter
Sat, 17 May 2008 21:40
Phone fun: Bok coach Peter de Villiers
Western Province Vodacom Cup flyhalf Isma-eel Dollie is the big bolter in new Springbok coach Peter de Villiers' first training squad of the season.
De Villiers on Saturday confirmed the names of 42 players for the national training camp that will start in Stellenbosch and Somerset West next week.
The squad - which features four overseas-based World Cup stars in captain John Smit, lock Victor Matfield, fullback Percy Montgomery and flyhalf Butch James - is devoid of any Sharks players.
The Sharks management requested that their players should not be included in the initial squad, as it might distract their players ahead of the knock-out stages.
Players from the Sharks who have been selected for the squad will be announced following their side's completion of the competition.
The squad includes a number of surprises, but the name that stands out is that of Dolly.
Dollie, who played under De Villiers in the South African under-21 side, failed to make the Stormers squad this year and played for a WP team that was knocked out of the competition in the semifinals.
Other surprises include flank Kabamba Floors, who dropped out of the Cheetahs side and joined up with the national Sevens team, along with Bulls players Hilton Lobberts and Heini Adams, who have seen limited Super 14 action.
Another bolter is the injured Bulls hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle, who has been recovering from a knee injury and has not played any rugby since December 2006.
Other names that may raise the eyebrows are that of Lions fullback Earl Rose, Bulls fullback Zane Kirchner, Lions lock Gerhard Mostert and Stormers flank Luke Watson.
Almost the entire World Cup-winning Bok squad of 2007 (excluding the Sharks members of course) have been retained.
Those names absent include Os du Randt and Bob Skinstad, who have both retired, the flyhalf André Pretorius and centre Wayne Julies, both injured, and hooker Gary Botha, who is playing abroad.
De Villiers was adamant that bot too much should be read into the squad selection.
"I want to emphasise that this is a training squad, not a Test squad," said De Villiers.
"I have selected certain players to work with them in a squad environment alongside the country's finest players, and others because I felt I had not seen enough of them during the Vodacom Super 14.
"I want to congratulate all the players who were named, and I look forward to working with them all next week."
The squad assembles next Wednesday, May 21.
Springbok training squad:
Backs: Heini Adams, Gcobani Bobo, Meyer Bosman, Tonderai Chavhanga, Jean de Villiers, Isma-eel Dollie, Fourie du Preez, Jaque Fourie, Peter Grant, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Enrico Januarie, Conrad Jantjes, Zane Kirchner, Louis Ludik, Percy Montgomery, Akona Ndungane, Jongi Nokwe, Wynand Olivier, Earl Rose.
Forwards: Andries Bekker, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Brits, Schalk Burger, Wian du Preez, Kabamba Floors, Hilton Lobberts, Victor Matfield, Gerhard Mostert, Brian Mujati, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Danie Rossouw, John Smit (captain), Juan Smith, Pierre Spies, Gürthro Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde, Heinke van der Merwe, Wikus van Heerden, Joe van Niekerk, Duanne Vermeulen, Luke Watson.
