FORMER MUNSTER CENTRE Jean de Villiers has returned from injury to be named captain of South Africa’s squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship.
The 33-year-old missed the June Tests against Wales with a knee injury, but has proved his fitness ahead of the Springboks’ competition opener against Argentina on the 16th of August.
Joining de Villiers in returning to Heyneke Meyer’s squad are formidable lock Eben Etzebeth, Tendai ‘The Beast’ Mtawarira, Frans Malherbe, Patrick Lambie and Damian de Allende.
Stormers centre/wing de Allende joins Sharks scrum-half Cobus Reinach as the only uncapped members of Meyer’s selection.
The return of de Villiers and Etzebeth may be key for South Africa as they prepare for to face the renewed Argentina, ever-improving Australia and clinical New Zealand.
Veteran second row Victor Matfield captained the side expertly in the absence of de Villiers, and is likely to remain a key figure. The continued selection of Bakkies Botha means the Boks are spoiled for quality in the locking department.
JP Pietersen and Schalk Burger were not considered for inclusion as they must return to their Japanese club sides, but Meyer says he may call on them at a later stage of the Rugby Championship.
Flip van der Merwe [knee], Pieter-Steph du Toit [knee], Arno Botha [knee], Pierre Spies [bicep], Fourie du Preez [ankle] and Jaque Fourie [ankle] are all missing through injury.
“We’ve been steadily improving over the past two years but another step-up is needed this season,” Meyer told SA Rugby.
“It’s been a theme for us since the start of the season and we must simply keep on accelerating in the coming two months. We’ve set ourselves some goals for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship and we’ll have to be focused and switched on from the moment we get together in Johannesburg.
“There are many good things we can build on from the June series, but also some things we need to work on if we’re going to be competitive in the coming months. It’s a challenge we relish though and I can’t wait to get going.”
South Africa squad for 2014 Rugby Championship:
Forwards: Willem Alberts, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Brits, Marcell Coetzee, Eben Etzebeth, Lodewyk de Jager, Francois Louw, Frans Malherbe, Victor Matfield, Teboho Mohoje, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Gurthro Steenkamp, Adriaan Strauss, Duane Vermeulen.
Backs: Damian de Allende, Bryan Habana, Cornal Hendricks, Francois Hougaard, Patrick Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo, Ruan Pienaar, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Willie le Roux, Jan Serfontein, Morné Steyn, Jean de Villiers (captain).
