Brave Straeuli puts faith ahead of form

The coach's faith in their ability rather than their most recent form has earned an inordinate number of Springboks selection into Rudolf Straeuli's 24-man squad for the first Test against Scotland.

The coach admitted as much last night, but he wisely pointed to the selections of Lions centre Gcobani Bobo and Cheetahs' hooker Hanyani Shimange as long overdue.

"Bobo and Shimmie would have been in the squad for last year's end of season tour," Straeuli said.

Sharks centre Trevor Halstead and team-mate Stefan Terblanche owe their selection to fond memories Straeuli has of them as former Sharks coach. "In any selection you get a coach's choice and this is an example of where I am backing the player on what he has done in the past. Trevor's selection is based on historic form and not 2003 form.

"Stefan has not enjoyed a good Super 12 and younger players have been in better form. I can get the best out of him," Straeuli assured.

The selection of Craig Davidson ahead of Bolla Conradie as Joost van der Westhuizen's deputy was mildly surprising, but the Sharks halfback has been in impeccable form.

Straeuli confirmed that Cats flyhalf Andre Pretorius would not be available for the two-Test series against Scotland, but named Jaco van der Westhuyzen as a flyhalf candidate should Louis Koen fail to stay out of harm's way.

Straeuli's team will go into their opening Test without several players who would normally be in the starting XV, but the coach was not prepared to speculate on the reasons for the high attrition rate among the country's leading players.

"That is something we have to look at and have looked at in SA Rugby. I don't want to give you the answer now or not at least until the medical guys come out with what they think," the coach tiptoed.

In the aftermath of Tim Lane's axing as assistant coach Straeuli had little to offer on his new assistants Gert Smal, Rudy Joubert and Ray Mordt. "I've huge respect for those three. They have also been head coaches before and their experience will be much needed in our campaign."

SA A team

Backs:

Gcobani Bobo (Lions), Craig Davidson (Sharks), Trevor Halstead (Sharks), Marius Joubert (Western Province), Louis Koen (Lions), Ricardo Loubscher (Sharks), Pieter Rossouw (Western Province), Andre Snyman (Sharks), Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), Joost van der Westhuizen (Blue Bulls), Jaco van der Westhuyzen (Blue Bulls).

Forwards:

Richard Bands (Blue Bulls), Selborne Boome (Western Province), Bakkies Botha (Blue Bulls), Danie Coetzee (Blue Bulls), Hendrik Gerber (Western Province), Robbie Kempson (Ulster/Stormers), Victor Matfield (Blue Bulls), Lawrence Sephaka (Lions), Hanyani Shimange (Cheetahs), Jaun Smith (Cheetahs), Wickus van Heerden (Lions), Cobus Visagie (Western Province), Pedrie Wannenburg (Blue Bulls).

The following players were not considered because of injury:

Jean de Villiers (WP, knee), Robbie Fleck (WP, hamstring), Werner Greeff (WP, ankle), Jaque Fourie (Lions, back), Dean Hall (Lions, knee), Corné Krige (WP, knee), Jannes Labuschagne (Lions, concussion), Breyton Paulse (WP, knee), André Pretorius (Lions, knee), Faan Rautenbach (WP, ankle), Brent Russell (Sharks, shoulder), Hendro Scholtz (Free State, knee), Shaun Sowerby (Sharks, leg), John Smit (Sharks, shoulder), Bob Skinstad (Lions, shoulder), Joe van Niekerk (Lions, knee).