Players who missed out on Bok tour

Dudley Carstens looks at some of the domestic players that were part of Springbok coach Allister Coetzee’s at the start of his tenure, but failed to make the cut for the trip to the UK.

Ox Nche

IT’S probably with a bit of a smirk on his face that Free State Cheetahs prop Ox Nche received the Currie Cup Player of the Year award on Monday evening.

Despite his heroics in this tournament, there was no place for the loosehead in any of the Springboks’ two squads – not for the clash against the Barbarians next week, and also not for the Tests that follow in the UK.

Nche can count himself unlucky to miss out on selection, but at 21 there is no doubt he will get his chance in the Green and Gold sooner rather than later - especially if he can transform the type of form that crowned him Player of the Year into Super Rugby next season.

Having conceded the most amount of penalties in the tournament - 12, he will know that this is an area that needs improvement.

Leolin Zas

The Stormers and Western Province winger was used as a fullback against the Saxons earlier this year.

And now he has failed to make the cut for the squad against the Barbarians.

Zas, though, shouldn’t be disheartened at this as he will no doubt add value to the Springbok team in years to come.

Blessed with great pace, good hands and decent aerial skills and, at only 21, he was called up to the Western Province u21 squad for the finals of the Currie Cup – just to indicate how young this future superstar really is.

Garth April

April’s star shone bright ever since he helped Durbell to the national club championship last year.

So much so that Coetzee decided to call him up to the national squad for the visit from Ireland at the start of the season.

But things didn’t quite work out the way the Sharks star would’ve wanted, as he disappeared off the radar in Durban with Innocent Radebe and Curwin Bosch now being seen as the next rising stars to come from the coastal franchise.

The April story was a good one for South Africans, but it looks like it might have been only a little window dressing.

At 25, it is highly unlikely that April will get another look-in at the national team.

Travis Ismael

The 24-year-old did nothing wrong throughout the Currie Cup and was also involved with the SA A team when they faced the England Saxons earlier this year.

He did what was required of him in the domestic tournament, not only scoring three tries, but making three assists and also winning five turnovers in the process.

Unfortunately for Ismaiel, Sergeal Petersen proved to be unstoppable towards the latter end of the tournament and rightfully deserves his place in the squad.

Howard Mnisi

When the names were read out for the SA A team to play the England Saxos, the 27-year-old was called up to man the inside centre position next to Francois Venter.

But he has been slipping down the pecking order ever since and a lot of it has to do with the rise of his Lions teammate Rohan Janse van Rensburg, who has now received a call-up to the team that will play the Barbarians.

Mnisi was also replaced by Lukhanyo Am for the second match against the Saxons and will have to fight hard next year if he wishes to be in Coetzee’s plans for the future.

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