Family ties in Bok squad

2008-05-28 17:09

Johannesburg - The Springbok squad announced by coach Peter de Villiers in Cape Town on Wednesday includes the brother of World Cup Springbok wing Akona Ndungane and the son of former Springbok lock Hennie Bekker.

Should Odwa Ndungane be called upon to play in any of the Tests the Ndungane's will become the tenth set of brothers to play for South Africa and the first Black players to do so.

World Cup Boks Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis last year became the latest pair of brothers to be selected for the Boks. Jannie is not in De Villiers' latest squad.

Uncapped lock Andries Bekker, Stormers and Western Province lock, follows in the footsteps of his father Hennie, who was also renowned for his lineout work and his mobility in the loose.

The last time a father-son combination came about was with the selection of Ruan Pienaar to Test duty. Gysie - father of Ruan who is a World Cup Springbok and part of De Villiers' squad - was South Africa's fullback in the 1980s.

Two players who have been out in the cold for a number of years, centres Adi Jacobs and Ngcobani Bobo, have been recalled.

Bobo, who captained the Springboks Sevens side last year as he was not required by Dick Muir, the then Sharks coach who is now the Springboks' backline coach, returns to the Bok fold for the first time after he had to withdraw from the 2003 World Cup due to injury. He played his last Test in 2004 as a replacement. Bobo now plays for the Stormers.

Jacobs, another who seldom started for the Sharks and who was mostly used as an impact player by Muir, last played Test rugby in 2002.

Lions No 8 Joe van Niekerk, who has 46 Test caps and played his last Test in 2006, is also back in favour after an excellent Super 14 season for the Lions, as is Stormers reserve scrumhalf Bolla Conradie, whose last Test was in 2005 against Argentina.

- SAPA