It will be unwise not to consider overseas-based South African players in crucial positions such as flyhalf and tighthead prop for the forthcoming visit by the British and Irish Lions.
That was the message to Springbok coach Peter de Villiers from several former Springboks prior to the Lions tour, which only occurs once every 12 years.
With South Africa having lost 1-2 in the 1997 series, they should not expose themselves to any risk.
Os du Randt, who was a member of South Africa’s World Cup-winning teams of 1995 and 2007, said De Villiers should not look past CJ van der Linde and Butch James.
Together with BJ Botha, who is also playing overseas, they are still available to play for the Boks.
Jannie du Plessis is currently the only tighthead prop with test experience performing well in the Super14. John Smit is also being used in the position, but he is not as experienced as Du Plessis, Van der Linde and Botha.
James’s departure left a big void at flyhalf, where the injured Ruan Pienaar has been earmarked to play against the Lions.
Pienaar’s skills are good, but he has spent most of his career at scrumhalf. Peter Grant and Frans Steyn can also be considered at flyhalf for South Africa.
De Villiers is not a big believer in picking overseas-based players.
“I definitely think Peter should consider overseas-based players. When Percy Montgomery was picked out of Wales some years ago, it was good for the side because we were exposed to new ideas,” said Du Randt.
“Tighthead prop is a position where we don’t have a great deal of depth and I think someone like CJ has all the skills of a tight forward.”
[Supersport]
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