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SA Rugby announces 2006 Super 14 squads
http://www.rugby.com.au/news/sa_rugb.../section/21893
January 17, 2006 - 12:52am
Story via: ARU
SA Rugby today confirmed the five regional squads to participate in the expanded Rugby Super 14 competition.
Competition newcomers the Cheetahs will kick-start the competition locally when they entertain the Bulls in a night match on 10 February in Bloemfontein. The next day the Cats will square up against the Stormers, while Durban-based Sharks are at home against the Chiefs.
Johan Prinsloo, Managing Director of SA Rugby, said the expanded competition means more local players will now get the opportunity to gain vital experience at the highest level. This will ultimately enable the national selectors to cast their net over a much wider range in the search to add even more players with potential to the national squad.
"If you look at our on-field performances across all national levels during the past two seasons, then I can safely say that our rugby is in good shape. We are world champions at both under 19 and under 21 level, whilst the Springboks maintained their consistently good form under Jake White.
"The Vodacom Cheetahs will make their debut this year and we are confident that they, like the four other participants, will do us proud in this exciting competition," said Prinsloo.
Bulls:
Backs - Johan Roets, John Mametsa, Akona Ndungane, Danwell Demas, JP Nel, Rudi Coetzee, Dries Scholtz, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Trompie Nontshinga, Derick Hougaard, Morne Steyn, Heini Adams, Fourie du Preez
Forwards - Jacques Cronje, Pedrie Wannenburg, Tim Dlulane, Johan Wasserman, Danie Rossouw, Adriaan Fondse, Victor Matfield, Cliffie Milton, Bakkies Botha, Francois van Schouwenburg, Andries Human, Danie Thiart, Gary Botha, Adriaan Strauss, Jaco Engels, Gurthro Steenkamp
Cats:
Backs - Conrad Jantjes, Earl Rose, Ashwin Willemse, Wylie Human, Grant Esterhuizen, Jaque Fourie, Wayne Julies, Doppies la Grange, Dewey Swartbooi, Jorrie Muller, Tiaan Snyman, Enrico Januarie, Dave von Hoesslin
Forwards - Russell Winter, Cobus Grobbelaar, Wikus van Heerden, Ernest Joubert, Roland Barnard, Gerhard Vosloo, Gordon Gilfillan, Willem Stolz, Jannes Labushagne, Trevor Hall, Bertus Smith, Daniel Muller, Lucas van Biljon, James van der Walt, Lawrence Sephaka, Pietman van Niekerk
Cheetahs:
Backs - Bevan Fortuin, Gaffie du Toit, Eddie Fredericks, Gavin Passens, Alwyn Hollenbach, Ronnie Cooke, Keith Louwen, Barry Goodes, Vuyani Dlomo, Sinethemba Zweni, Willem de Waal, Meyer Bosman, Michael Claassens, Noel Oelschig
Forwards - Ryno van der Merwe, Frans Viljoen, Juan Smith, Heinrich Stride, Gareth Krause, Kabamba Floors, Giscard Pieterse, Wayne van Heerden, Corniel van Zyl, CJ van der Linde, Jannie du Plessis, Tiaan Liebenberg, Trevor Leota, Ollie le Roux, Os du Randt, Wian du Preez
Sharks:
Backs - JP Pietersen, Brent Russell, Cedric Mkhize, Grant Rees, Waylon Murray, Adrian Jacobs, Gcobani Bobo, Andries Strauss, Odwa Ndungane, Henno Mentz, Percy Montgomery, Craig Davidson, Sandile Nxumalo, Ruan Pienaar
Forwards - Jacques Botes, Daniel Farani, Nico Breedt, Warren Britz, Solly Tyibilika, Johann Muller, Albert van den Berg, Johan Ackermann, Steven Sykes, AJ Venter, BJ Botha, Danie Saayman, Skipper Badenhorst, Bismarck du Plessis, Deon Carstens, Brent Moyle
Stormers:
Backs - Werner Greeff, Tonderai Chavhanga, Rayno Benjamin, Egon Seconds, Marius Joubert, Jean de Villiers, De Wet Barry, Jonghi Nokwe, Peter Grant, Naas Olivier, Neil de Kock, Paul Delport, Bolla Conradie
Forwards - Adri Badenhorst, Justin Melck, Schalk Burger, Hendrik Gerber, Luke Watson, Henk Eksteen, Andries Bekker, Daniel Theron, Gerrie Britz, Ross Skeate, Eddie Andrews, Attie Winter, Schalk Brits, Hanyani Shimange, Huia Edmonds, JD Moller.
SA squads meet quota requirements
Monday January 16 2006
Backs still dominate the 'transformation' selections
The South African Rugby Union (SARU's) quota requirements were met when the names of the players for the five South African franchises, to compete in the inaugural Super 14 competition, were confirmed on Monday.
Each of the five teams included the minimum eight black (African black or coloured) players ... but no more.
Mveleli Ncula, the deputy chief executive of SARU, in December revealed that each Super 14 franchise had to include eight black players in its 30-man squad, with six in every match-day 22 and four in the starting lineup.
This was again confirmed last week by SARU CEO Johan Prinsloo, who made it clear that teams will be closely monitored to ensure they adhere to these quotas.
SARU said the increased number - six in the match-day 22, up from last year's three, and four in the starting XV, up from two - was part of the union's "transformation drive" and aimed at helping Springbok coach Jake White increase his pool of experienced black players.
While a total of 40 black players now feature in the South African Super 14 teams, the scene is still dominated by backs.
The Bulls, who were last year criticised for fielding just two black wingers, now have two black forwards in their side. They are flank Tim Dlulane (an eight-minute Springbok on the year-end tour in 2004) and Bok prop Gurthro Steenkamp. The rest of their black players are all backs - John Mametsa, Akona Ndungane, Danwell Demas, Bryan Habana, Trompie Nontshinga and Heini Adams.
The Cats have just one forward, Bok prop Lawrence Sephaka. Their "transformation" backs are Conrad Jantjes, Earl Rose, Aswhin Willemse, Wylie Human, Wayne Julies, Dewey Swartbooi and Enrico Januarie.
The Cheetahs have three forwards, all loose forwards, in Heinrich Stride, Kabamba Floors and Wayne van Heerden - although the latter can probably cover at lock at a push. The backs in this category are Bevan Fortuin, Eddie Fredericks, Gavin Passens, Vuyani Dlomo and Sinethemba Zweni.
The Sharks have just one forward that falls in the transformation category - Springbok flank Solly Tyibilika. The backs are JP Pietersen, Cedric Mkhize, Waylon Murray, Adrian Jacobs, Gcobani Bobo, Odwa Ndungane and Sandile Nxumalo.
The Stormers have two forwards in this department - Springbok prop Eddie Andrews and Bok hooker Hanyani Shimange. The backs are Tonderai Chavhanga, Rayno Benjamin, Egon Seconds, Jonghi Nokwe, Paul Delport and Bolla Conradie.
Closer inspection of the squads will reveal no real surprises.
The most noticeable aspect of the squads are the number of players absent due to injury - players such as André Pretorius (Cats), Joe van Niekerk (Stormers), John Smit (Sharks) and Richard Bands (Bulls).
The name of Tony Brown has also been omitted from the Sharks squad, but like the injured players, he is expected to be included in the squad once he becomes available.
Brown's arrival has been delayed due to the fact that his Japanese club (the Sanyo Wild Knights) have not completed their fixtures in Japan's national competition. The Knights are into the play-offs and this has delayed Brown's arrival in Durban.
The Sharks' squad, as it is now, looks vulnerable in key positions - particularly at fly-half, where Bok fullback Percy Montgomery is the only name penned down. His back-up would be either Brent Russell (fullback) or Ruan Pienaar (scrum-half).
The Bulls, despite having lost inspirational captain Anton Leonard to retirement, still look menacing. The arrival of Rudi Coetzee and Dries Scholtz gives more solidity to an already impressive midfield.
Dlulane will also benefit from playing in the presence of great loose forwards like Jacques Cronjé, Pedrie Wannenburg and Johan Wasserman.
Despite the absence of the burly figure of Bands, the Bulls still have the most impressive collection of tight forwards - Danie Rossouw, Adriaan Fondse, Victor Matfield, Cliffie Milton, Bakkies Botha, Francois van Schouwenburg, Andries Human, Danie Thiart, Gary Botha, Adriaan Strauss, Jaco Engels and Gurthro Steenkamp.
The Cats look very thin at fly-half, with Tiaan Snyman the only specialist No.10. Earl Rose will cover there till Pretorius returns.
The Cats' tight forwards also look solid, but not spectacular. The return of Jannes Labuschagne gives them depth, but creativity at halfback may be a problem unless Enrico January and Pretorius are fully fit.
The Cheetahs leaned heavily on their Currie Cup-winning combination. But the arrival of Gaffie du Toit (from the Stormers), Ronnie Cooke (Leopards) and All Black Keith Lowen will add the necessary depth to their back division.
Their strength will be in the scrums, where they have a wealth of experience and bulk - CJ van der Linde, Jannie du Plessis, Tiaan Liebenberg, Trevor Leota, Ollie le Roux, Os du Randt and Wian du Preez.
The Stormers have excluded utility back Gus Theron, with Boland flyers Rayno Benjamin and Jonghi Nokwe getting a run. The inclusion of Benjamin will be applauded by purists who prefer a player with genuine rugby skills ahead of a journeyman like Theron.
And the arrival of Leopards fly-half Naas Oliver at the 11th hour - he joined the squad just a week ago - shows that there is some concern about the depth at No.10.
The other concern for Stormers fans would be the tight forwards, and in particular the front row. Here the performances of Griquas import Attie Winter - named ahead of London Irish import Doug Wheatley - will be closely monitored. The other props in the squad are Eddie Andrews and JD Moller.
The SARU CEO, Prinsloo, said the expanded competition means more local players will now get the opportunity to gain vital experience at the highest level. This will ultimately enable the national selectors to cast their net over a much wider range in the search to add even more players with potential to the national squad.
"If you look at our on-field performances across all national levels during the past two seasons, then I can safely say that our rugby is in good shape," said Prinsloo. "We are world champions at both under 19 and under 21 level, whilst the Springboks maintained their consistently good form under Jake White.
"The Cheetahs will make their debut this year and we are confident that they, like the four other participants, will do us proud in this exciting competition," Prinsloo added.
By Jan de Koning