AUDIO: Bok coach drops selection hints
JUNE SPOTLIGHT: South Africa’s two French-based stars, hooker Bismarck du Plessis and utility back Francois Steyn, will not play in the first Test against England.
However, coach Rassie Erasmus dropped some strong hints about the possible make-up of his team for the first Test of the three-match series against England.
Erasmus, addressing the media after the 20-22 loss to a depleted Wales in Washington at the weekend, said Du Plessis and Steyn will arrive back from France too late to be considered for the opening Test of the series – at Ellis Park this coming Saturday.
He said they will be considered for the other two internationals – in Bloemfontein on June 16 and Cape Town a week later – as England seek to win a series in South Africa for the first time.
Steyn and Du Plessis were part of the Montpellier team beaten by Castres in the French Top 14 Final last Saturday.
“As I said, they are not guaranteed to play,” Erasmus told the media gathering.
“They have played a game [the Top 14 Final] and must do their exit medicals [at Montpelier], before they can be released by their club.
“I expect Bismarck [Du Plessis] to arrive tomorrow [Tuesday] and Frans [Steyn] only Wednesday.
“They will not be considered for action this week, simply because they did not train with the team.
“It also would not be fair to the guys who are here.
“I also need to see what they look like when they get here.”
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The coach dropped some strong hints about his starting XV, suggesting the players that stayed behind, would make up the bulk of the team to face England at Ellis Park.
He hinted that players like prop Steven Kitshoff, who did feature in the Washington Test, could still play a role against England.
“Pieter-Steph [du Toit] is a guy who can play in any side,” Erasmus said, adding: “Jessie [Kriel] can play in any side.
“Andre [Esterhuizen] is one of the guys who definitely put up his hand.
“There will be eight from the guys who toured that will be in the mix and some of those guys might start.
“We might play around with the starting line-up.
“We just want to do some analysis on the game [in Washington] and England.”
Possible starting XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
@rugby365com
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