30 Aug 2012

Meyer adds uncapped players to his Springbok squad

8:05 am on 30 August 2012

The Springbok coachHeyneke Meyer has picked uncapped Johan Goosen and Duane Vermeulen in his Rugby Championship squad for away Tests against Australia and New Zealand next month.

First five Goosen and number eight Vermeulen have just returned to Currie Cup action after long injury lay-offs and respective coaches Naka Drotske of the Cheetahs and Allister Coetzee of the Stormers believe they are not ready for Test action.

However, Meyer is desperate to silence critics after the public and media turned on him following a undeserved 16-all draw away to newcomers Argentina last weekend in the southern hemisphere championship.

Vermeulen has been kept out of the Springbok team by now injured Pierre Spies while 20-year-old Goosen is a phenomenal place kicker who finished sixth among the leading Super 15 scorers despite missing half the season.

The Springboks face Australia, reeling from two defeats in as many weekends by New Zealand, on September 8th in Perth and the rampant All Blacks in Dunedin a week later.

South Africa have poor away records against the Wallabies and the All Blacks and Meyer has added four players and axed two from the squad that travelled to Argentina.

Apart from the introduction of Goosen and Vermeulen, centre Juan de Jongh and flank Francois Louw from English club Bath are recalled while wing-cum-centre JJ Engelbrecht and loose forward Keegan Daniel drop out.