Coetzee to signal intent with Bok squad announcement

The new Bok coach will name his side for the incoming Ireland Test series after the Lions-Bulls derby on Saturday. Don’t expect any massive surprises in the squad aside for the inclusion of a couple of overseas based players and one or two youngsters.

After 14 rounds of Super Rugby action, Coetzee will select 33 players for the Springbok squad that will face Ireland in three Tests. The side will be entering a new phase, as a number of veterans have finally hung up their boots, paving the way for a new generation of Springboks.

Captaincy

The captaincy will be a major talking point over the weekend. Many expect eighthman Duane Vermeulen to crack the nod. He will be one of a number of foreign-based players in the squad but that shouldn’t create any problem with Coetzee, considering the pair worked together well at the Stormers and Western Province.

Another player tipped to lead the side is Bulls skipper Adriaan Strauss. With Bismarck du Plessis enjoying life with Jake White’s Montpellier in France, Strauss is certain to be the incumbent hooker for the foreseeable future. He’s been in good form for the Pretoria outfit and was one of the leaders in Heyneke Meyer’s Springbok team.

Flyhalves

Pat Lambie looks likely to be the first choice pivot for the incoming series. The Sharks flyhalf has made a successful comeback from a shoulder injury and got some valuable game time in the past three rounds of Super Rugby.

Coetzee will be relieved that Lambie is back in action and looking sharp with Handre Pollard ruled out for the season with a freak knee injury.

The bad news is that Elton Jantjes is freshly injured as well. The Lions pivot has been in sublime form for the Lions but a broken finger means he may miss one or more of the Irish tests. It means Coetzee has to find an able backup for Lambie on the Bok bench.

There has been loud calls for France-based Johan Goosen to earn a Bok recall and he may well be one of the names penned in Coetzee’s book come Saturday.

Others are even calling for Garth April to get a call-up. The Sharks flyhalf has been a surprise package but he would probably benefit more from playing in the South Africa A side that will face an England ‘Saxons’ side in two matches in June.

Big guns

What seems certain is that some of South Africa’s brightest young stars will finally nail down permanent spots in the Green and Gold.

Lood de Jager and Eben Etzebeth were massive at the World Cup and can forge a partnership similar to their lock predecessors Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha. Pieter-Steph du Toit will also be in the running, and Coetzee will have the unfortunate task of deciding who starts between De Jager and Du Toit.

Upfront, Beast Mtawarira is sure to feature prominently. The burly Sharks prop has been in good form of late and has benefitted from a good break. What remains to be seen is whether Coetzee will call-up his gem while at Province, Steven Kitshoff, who has been playing for Bordeaux.

Frans Malherbe is likely to be the first choice tighthead for the Boks while Lions stalwart Julian Redelinghuys has a good chance of making the squad as well.

Who we hope to see

Going on form alone, the likes Daniel du Preez and Jaco Kriel would make interesting additions to the Bok squad. The latter has been in the mix in the past, while Du Preez would get his first taste of the Springbok setup if he cracks the nod.

In the backline, one hopes that Cheslin Kolbe features while Ruan Combrinck has done more than enough for the Lions this season to have caught Coetzee's attention.

Coetzee's squad will give us a good idea of what he hopes to achieve in the next four years.

This would be my first choice starting XV for the first Ireland Test (15-1):

Willie le Roux, Ruan Combrinck, Lionel Mapoe, Jan Serfontein, JP Pietersen, Pat Lambie, Ruan Pienaar,

Duane Vermeulen, Siya Kolisi, Jaco Kriel, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Adriaan Strauss, Beast Mtawarira.

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