Peter de Villiers unveils Springboks final 30-man squad for their Rugby World Cup title defence - Rugby News
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has announced the Springboks final 30-man squad for their 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) campaign. Springboks head coach, Peter De Villiers, listed the squad for their title defence on Tuesday, August 23.
Commenting on the occasion, De Villiers said, “The squad has a backbone of proven title-winning ability and experience as well as a strong component of new stars.”
18 of the 30 players were part of the Springboks squad, which won the 2007 RWC title. The squad features 11 players from the Springboks 2007 RWC’s starting XV.
De Villiers added that the injuries to several key players have restrained them from selecting their full strength squad. However, he is confident the squad that was selected has the abilities to successfully defend the title. He added, “This squad has the experience and ability to make a strong challenge for the title, but we know it will be very difficult.”
The 30-man squad contains a split of 16 forwards and 14 backs players. The squads’ average international caps are 40 caps per player.
De Villiers expressed his satisfaction with the overall combination of the squad. He said, “We have good coverage for every position and front line players who have shown over the past half dozen seasons that they know how to win big games.”
Springboks’ 2007 RWC winning captain, John Smit, will again lead his players in their quest for the title.
The average age of the De Villiers final 30-man squad is 27. 7 years. Springboks vice captain Victor Matfield, with 34 years of age, is their oldest player while Sharks’ 20-year-old utility back player, Patrick Lambie, is the youngest player in the squad.
Most of the players named in the final squad play their professional rugby with South African Super Rugby franchises. The squad contains nine players from Bulls, eight from Sharks and seven from the Stormers.
In addition to this, the squad also includes four overseas players which include Racing Metro’s Frans Steyn, Ulster’s duo of Ruan Pienaar and Johann Muller, and Bath Rugby bound Francois Louw.
Springboks will kick-start their title defence with their September 11 encounter against the Wales at Wellington.
The Springboks final 30-man squad for their 2011 RWC campaign consists of
Forwards: Pierre Spies, Willem Alberts, Heinrich Brussow, Schalk Burger, Francois Louw, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Johann Muller, Danie Rossouw, Jannie Du Plessis, CJ van der Linde, Bismarck du Plessis, Chiliboy Ralepelle, John Smit (captain), Tendai Mtawarira, Guthro Steenkamp.
Backs: Francois Steyn, Gio Aplon, Patrick Lambie, Bryan Habana, Odwa Ndungane, JP Pietersen, Juan de Jongh, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Butch James, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Francois Hougaard, Ruan Pienaar.
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