adminCAPE TOWN. — The hype was centred around the return of Jannie du Plessis and the continued omission of Duane Vermeulen, but there was something else that stood out from Allister Coetzee’s Springbok squad selection on Saturday. Coetzee named a 33-man squad that will travel to the northern hemisphere for rugby Tests against England, Italy and Wales next month.
And, significantly, there was no Morne Steyn. Steyn had been rushed into the Bok squad in the June Test series against Ireland when Pat Lambie was left concussed following the first Test in Cape Town. He had played second-fiddle to Elton Jantjies for the rest of that series. South Africa squad versus England, Italy and Wales
Forwards (18): Willem Alberts, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Jaco Kriel, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Oupa Mohoje, Franco Mostert, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Jannie du Plessis, Jean-Luc du Preez, Roelof Smit, Adriaan Strauss (captain), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Warren Whiteley.
Backs (15): Damian de Allende, Ruan Combrinck, Faf de Klerk, Johan Goosen, Bryan Habana, Elton Jantjies, Jesse Kriel, Patrick Lambie, Lionel Mapoe, Rudy Paige, Sergeal Petersen, JP Pietersen, Willie le Roux, Francois Venter, Piet van Zyl. — Sport24
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