Jantjes back in Springbok squad

PRETORIA – Springbok coach Jake White on Saturday named a familiar-looking squad for the three-Test tour of Argentina, Wales and France next month.

White named no new players in his team, but did add eight-times-capped international and Cats utility back Conrad Jantjes to his 2004 Tri-Nations-winning squad. Jantjes made his debut in 2001 against Italy and in his second Test against Australia at Loftus during that year’s Tri-Nations campaign, the 25 year-old was named man of the match.He played eight times for the Boks, but has not featured in a Springbok team for three years.His superb performances on the right wing in this year’s Super 12 series for the Cats convinced White he is the right man to fill the void left by Breyton Paulse, who is now playing club rugby in France.”Conrad can play wing and fullback, but it was his performances in the number 14 jersey for the Cats in the Super 12 that made me select him,” said the national coach.”I’ll be looking to use him as an outright winger even though he’s played at fullback in the Currie Cup.He will be the likely starting 14.”The Boks will have to do without the services of Joe van Niekerk, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Enrico Januarie, Gurthro Steenkamp, Ashwin Willemse and Marius Joubert, who are all nursing injuries.Van Niekerk fell out of contention on Friday when it became known he needed an operation on his right hand.”He’ll be operated on Monday,” explained White.”He’s got a problem with a tendon and will be out of action for a couple of months.”With the 2004 Tri-Nations winning number eight out of action, one of Jacques Cronje, Pedrie Wannenburg or Juan Smith will don the number-eight jumper, with Cronje the favourite.White has selected only one flyhalf, Andre Pretorius.Currie Cup stalwarts Morne Steyn (Bulls) and Willem de Waal (Cheetahs) were not considered.”We’re only playing three Tests and we want to use Andre in all of them.He’s our number one,” said White.Jean de Villiers and Percy Montgomery could fill in should anything happen to Pretorius.The Sharks’ Brent Russell, a fullback and flyhalf, and Western Province lock Gerrie Britz have been placed on standby.All the members of the squad, bar scrumhalf Bolla Conradie (14 caps) and Jantjes at some stage this season featured for the Boks.The least experienced squad member is Western Province winger Tonderai Chavhanga, who scored a record six tries on debut against Uruguay at the beginning of the season.The Boks train in Johannesburg this week before leaving for Argentina on Sunday.They play the Pumas on November 5 in Buenos Aires before going on to face Wales in Cardiff (November 19) and France in Paris (November 26).South Africa squad: Backs: Percy Montgomery, Conrad Jantjes, Tonderai Chavhanga, Bryan Habana, De Wet Barry, Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Wayne Julies, Andre Pretorius, Fourie du Preez, Bolla Conradie, Michael Claassens Forwards: Juan Smith, Pedrie Wannenburg, Schalk Burger, Solly Tyibilika, Jacques Cronje, Danie Rossouw, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Albert van den Berg, CJ van der Linde, Eddie Andrews, Os du Randt, Lawrence Sephaka, John Smit, Hanyani Shimange, Gary Botha.- NampaJantjes made his debut in 2001 against Italy and in his second Test against Australia at Loftus during that year’s Tri-Nations campaign, the 25 year-old was named man of the match.He played eight times for the Boks, but has not featured in a Springbok team for three years.His superb performances on the right wing in this year’s Super 12 series for the Cats convinced White he is the right man to fill the void left by Breyton Paulse, who is now playing club rugby in France.”Conrad can play wing and fullback, but it was his performances in the number 14 jersey for the Cats in the Super 12 that made me select him,” said the national coach.”I’ll be looking to use him as an outright winger even though he’s played at fullback in the Currie Cup.He will be the likely starting 14.”The Boks will have to do without the services of Joe van Niekerk, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Enrico Januarie, Gurthro Steenkamp, Ashwin Willemse and Marius Joubert, who are all nursing injuries.Van Niekerk fell out of contention on Friday when it became known he needed an operation on his right hand.”He’ll be operated on Monday,” explained White.”He’s got a problem with a tendon and will be out of action for a couple of months.”With the 2004 Tri-Nations winning number eight out of action, one of Jacques Cronje, Pedrie Wannenburg or Juan Smith will don the number-eight jumper, with Cronje the favourite.White has selected only one flyhalf, Andre Pretorius.Currie Cup stalwarts Morne Steyn (Bulls) and Willem de Waal (Cheetahs) were not considered.”We’re only playing three Tests and we want to use Andre in all of them.He’s our number one,” said White.Jean de Villiers and Percy Montgomery could fill in should anything happen to Pretorius.The Sharks’ Brent Russell, a fullback and flyhalf, and Western Province lock Gerrie Britz have been placed on standby.All the members of the squad, bar scrumhalf Bolla Conradie (14 caps) and Jantjes at some stage this season featured for the Boks.The least experienced squad member is Western Province winger Tonderai Chavhanga, who scored a record six tries on debut against Uruguay at the beginning of the season.The Boks train in Johannesburg this week before leaving for Argentina on Sunday.They play the Pumas on November 5 in Buenos Aires before going on to face Wales in Cardiff (November 19) and France in Paris (November 26).South Africa squad: Backs: Percy Montgomery, Conrad Jantjes, Tonderai Chavhanga, Bryan Habana, De Wet Barry, Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Wayne Julies, Andre Pretorius, Fourie du Preez, Bolla Conradie, Michael Claassens Forwards: Juan Smith, Pedrie Wannenburg, Schalk Burger, Solly Tyibilika, Jacques Cronje, Danie Rossouw, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Albert van den Berg, CJ van der Linde, Eddie Andrews, Os du Randt, Lawrence Sephaka, John Smit, Hanyani Shimange, Gary Botha.- Nampa