South African Rugby Union releases list of 12 standby players for 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has announced the names of 12 players, who will join the Springboks 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) squad in case of any injuries.
The SARU selectors unveiled the list of the 12 players as a back up to their first choice 30-man squad, on Wednesday, August 24.
The list comprised of four players each from the Blue Bulls and the Sharks, two from Free State Cheetahs and Lions’ Elton Jantjies. Stade Francais bound Gerhard Mostert is also named in the back up players list.
These standby players include the likes of Zane Kirchner, Lwazi Mvovo, Wynand Olivier, Elton Jantjies, Charl McLeod, Ashley Johnson, Jean Deysel, Gerhard Mostert, Alistair Hargreaves, Dean Greyling, Werner Kruger and Adriaan Strauss.
Most these backup players were part of the Springboks outfit during the 2011 campaigns, except for the duo of Lions’ Elton Jantjies and Cheetahs' Adriaan Strauss. The duo has earned their selection following their exceptional performance during the ongoing
2011 ABSA Currie Cup competition.
The list also includes the Springboks world cup-winning centre Wynand Olivier.
The Springboks injuries concern is not a new one, as it has hampered the defending champions 2011 RWC preparations quiet badly. Springboks lost 21 of their first choice players in the month of July due to different injures, which forced them to undergo the
Australasia tour of the 2011 Tri Nations tournament with a second string squad.
The team was no match for the powerful Wallabies and All Blacks, as they failed to deliver any performances worth mentioning. This includes a 40 -7 hammering they received by the All Blacks.
Springboks' squad was strengthened by the return of several of their first choice players for the home matches of the 2011 Tri Nations tournament. However, they were able to manage just one win out of their two home games.
Their solitary win came against a second string All Blacks team, which were touring without a number of their key players including the likes of Richie McCaw and Dan Carter.
Springboks head coach, Peter de Villiers, spoke at the end of a training session and confirmed the non-participation of several of their players in the day’s activities. However, he added, that most players are suffering from minor bruises and bumps, which
the players sustained in their last weekend encounter against the All Blacks.
Peter de Villiers added, “If there was a Test match on Saturday, they’d all be available to play other than Frans Steyn and Patrick Lambie.”
The duo of Steyn and Lambie are suffering from hamstring and shoulder injuries respectively. However, De Villiers has expressed his confidence that both will be available for selection, by the time of the 2011 RWC opener. He said, “We’ll have a full squad
to choose from for the first match of the tournament on September 9.”
The standby players and their respective club names are given below:
Zane Kirchner (Blue Bulls), Lwazi Mvovo (The Sharks), Wynand Olivier (Blue Bulls), Elton Jantjies (Golden Lions), Charl McLeod (The Sharks) , Ashley Johnson (Free State Cheetahs), Jean Deysel (The Sharks), Gerhard Mostert (Stade Francais), Alistair Hargreaves
(The Sharks), Dean Greyling (Blue Bulls), Werner Kruger (Blue Bulls)and Adriaan Strauss (Free State Cheetahs).
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