South African Rugby Union releases 23 players from their preliminary 2011 Rugby World Cup
South African Rugby Union (SARU) has released 23 players from their preliminary squad for 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC), to allow them to represent their provincial state sides in the ongoing 2011 ABSA Currie Cup tournament.
SARU has confirmed the release of the 23 players on Monday, August 1. The players include 15 players from the Springboks 29 man squad for the away leg of the 2011 Tri Nations Tournament.
Springboks head coach, Peter de Villiers, has confirmed that the released players still have a chance to earn a spot, in his final 30-man squad for the 2011 RWC.
De Villiers added, “Eight of this group have not played any rugby since the end of the Vodacom Super Rugby competition and have been on rehabilitation programmes with their European clubs or with the Springbok squad.”
The eight players’ names are Zane Kirchner, Francois Louw, BJ Botha, Heinrich Brüssow, Elton Jantjies, Adriaan Strauss, Johann Muller and Coenie Oosthuizen. The list also includes Sharks utility back, Patrick Lambie.
Springboks will be looking forward to change their fortunes, in the two home games of the Tri Nations, particularly after their poor performance in the two away from home games against the Wallabies and All Blacks.
Springboks will be strengthened by the return of several first choice players, who earlier were ruled out due to injuries. However, not all of the 23 injured players will be available to represent Boks in their remaining games of the tournament.
de Villiers confirmed that they are keeping a close eye on the players’ rehabilitation. He said, “Our medical team is continuing assessments on the remainder of the players who were unavailable for selection for the away leg. There are still injury concerns around a number of them.”
Reports are that the De Villiers will announce the Springboks squad for their remaining games, on Friday, August 5.
The players released by SARU on Monday include:
Bjorn Basson, BJ Botha , Heinrich Brüssow, Adrian Jacobs, Elton Jantjies, Zane Kirchner, Patrick Lambie, Francois Louw, Charl McLeod, Lwazi Mvovo, Odwa Ndungane, Wynand Olivier, Dean Greyling, Alistair Hargreaves, Ryan Kankowski, Werner Kruger, Ashley Johnson, Johann Muller, Coenie Oosthuizen, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Deon Stegmann, Adriaan Strauss, Flip van der Merwe.
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