Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber said on Tuesday it was “awesome” to have two South African sides, the DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls, contest the inaugural Vodacom United Rugby Championship final, even though it means the Boks have had to be creative with their limited numbers at training at their preparation camp in Pretoria.
Nienaber named a squad of 43 players for the international season last weekend, which featured eight uncapped players – a number of whom are expected to be in action in Saturday’s Vodacom URC grand finale at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town – with Salmaan Moerat, Ruan Nortje (both locks), as well as Evan Roos and Elrigh Louw (both loose forwards) among them.
With a number of overseas-based players yet to join the team, the national coach currently has only 16 players participating in training.
The other locally based players are set to join the national squad on Sunday following Saturday’s Vodacom URC final, while the contingent of overseas-based players will join the squad closer to their opening Test against Wales in the Castle Lager Incoming Series on Saturday 2 July, at Loftus Versfeld.
“The limited number of guys we have training has forced us to be creative with our field sessions because we do not have enough players in each position, so we have props slotting in at lock and locks getting stuck in at loose forward for example,” said Nienaber.
“The Vodacom Bulls have also been good to us despite having players participating in the Carling Currie Cup semi-final and Vodacom URC final this weekend, allowing some of their club players to train against us. In fact, we had a training session this morning against some of their players.
“That said, it is awesome to have two teams in the Vodacom URC final, especially if one looks at the long-term development of the players. The experience players gain from playing in big games like that is invaluable, and it is the same for our players participating in the Top 14 and Premiership Rugby.”
With a number of uncapped players named in his squad, Nienaber said it was important to strike a balance between giving the young players opportunities to make their Test debuts and winning Tests.
“When you represent the Springboks there are a few things one has to keep in mind, and two of them are that the team is a performance platform and that one is representing a brand,” said Nienaber.
“We have a plan on where we can introduce some of the young players, but how we execute that plan will obviously depend on results and injuries.”
