|
Jake's about-turn on Visagie
23/11/2006 00:11 - (SA)
Hendrik Cronjé
London - Cobus Visagie is about to play for the Springboks again and a new captain will lead the South African rugby team against a World XV in Leicester on December 3.
Visagie's return confirms that Springbok coach Jake White has changed his mind after overlooking the powerful tighthead prop for his squad early this year.
"Not all the decisions I take are always correct," White said here on Wednesday after Visagie had been asked to join the SA squad. Visagie now plays for Saracens in the English Premier League.
He could be included in the Springbok team for the last match of the tour, against the World XV next weekend.
White, who said earlier he would meet former Springbok loose forward Bob Skinstad and the flanker Jake Boer on Monday, has now added the name of former Springbok captain and loose forward André Vos, who is at Harlequins these days.
Visagie played for a World XV against the Springboks at Ellis Park early this year and impressed with his work in the scrum. In England, local experts sing his praises.
"Cobus can now show what he is capable of here in the northern hemisphere," White said on Wednesday.
John Smit would be given a rest
If Visagie does well in the Springbok front row in Leicester he could be in line to play for South Africa in the World Cup tournament. However, the Springboks already have fine tighthead props in CJ van der Linde and BJ Botha.
Zola Yeye, manager of the Springboks, said on Wednesday the team's captain, John Smit, would be given a rest and would not play against the World team.
This means a third player will be appointed to captain the Springboks this year because Jean de Villiers, who has led the team, will be returning home before the Leicester match.
Hooker Gary Botha and flank Wikus van Heerden are the favourites to take over from Smit.
Other players who will not be considered for the last tour match are prop forwards Lawrence Sephaka and BJ Botha, lock forward Johann Muller, flankers Juan Smith and Kabamba Floors and the wings Akona Ndungane and Bryan Habana.
Yeye confirmed that wing Jongi Nokwe, centre De Wet Barry and lock Selborne Boome would be on their way soon to join the team for the match against the World XV.
- Volksblad
|
