Bok squad raises a few eyebrows

Odd selection: Earl Rose

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The announcement of a Springbok touring squad traditionally has its quota of surprises, and it was no different when coach Peter de Villiers read out the 37 names for the outgoing tour.

The squad includes nine uncapped players and also five players who have been recalled, whilst the balance of 23 players is the bulk of the squad that won the 2009 Tri-Nations competition.

The biggest surprise was probably a collective one, with a number of players not in their provincial sides or only on the fringes thereof, included.

The most glaring of those selections is probably Lions prop Heinke van der Merwe, who has not been on a rugby field in more than six months and has not been involved in team training since April.

That the prop is a class act it not to be disputed - but is it fair on those who have worked throughout the season like Wian du Preez?

And if Van der Merwe could be selected, surely a (far-fetched) case could be made out for Gary Botha who is now back with the Bulls and has until recently played Premiership rugby in England.

And while on hookers, the question must be asked how Bandise Maku made the team. He is not even a regular replacement selection for the Blue Bulls - and with the return of Gary Botha will probably be relegated to fourth best at the Bulls.

Earl Rose is another who was not regarded as good enough for his provincial team.

Only injury to key players who filled in for injured Louis Ludik, saw him regain his place in the Lions Currie Cup side. Is Rose's selection merely to give him a run in a Springbok jersey after he was selected but never played in a Bok jersey?

If so, what about Free State loosehead Du Preez? Sharks lock Alistair Hargreaves, for all his undoubted quality, is another strange choice.

He rarely played for the Sharks this season and leapfrogs the Currie Cup side locks, former Bok captain Johann Muller and Steve Sykes who was on the bench in the third Test against the British and Irish Lions in Johannesburg.

Heini Adams also played a limited number of times and was used off the bench more often than starting.

Although Griquas scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius can feel aggrieved at losing out, Adams is an undoubted better selection than Ricky Januarie.

Griquas' Davon Raubenheimer is probably the biggest surprise in the squad. A hard-working journeyman flank, he is not even in the Cheetahs' Super 14 loose forward plans for 2010, according to their coach Naka Drotske.

To make that step up, he will have to outplay Springboks Heinrich Brussow, Juan Smith, Hendro Scholtz and Ashley Johnston and also Frans Viljoen, who has been outstanding in the latter half of the season when he got his chance for the Free State.

The nine newcomers are: Western Province centre Juan de Jongh, Sharks lock Alistair Hargreaves, Free State Cheetahs eighthman Ashley Johnson, the Blue Bulls' hooker Bandise Maku, scrumhalf Heini Adams, flanker Dewald Potgieter and utility back Francois Hougaard; and the Griquas duo of flank Davon Raubenheimer and fullback Riaan Viljoen.

The tour includes Test matches against France, Italy and Ireland as well as two midweek matches, against English Premiership teams Leicester and Saracens.

Nineteen of the squad were involved in the Currie Cup final on Saturday.

The squad of 37 will assemble in Johannesburg on Monday with the Springbok team for the midweek matches departing for the UK on Tuesday.

The remaining players - essentially a shadow Test XV - will remain in South Africa and depart for France on November 10.