South Africa
Veterans return for Springboks tour
ESPN Staff
October 29, 2013
JP Pietersen is set to make his first appearance of 2013 for the Springboks
© PA Photos
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South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has recalled the World Cup-winning trio of Bakkies Botha, Jaque Fourie and JP Pietersen for next month's Tests against Wales, Scotland and France. Botha, a 72-Test veteran, and Fourie have not featured for the Boks since the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, while Pietersen is set to make his first appearance of the year. Four uncapped players have also been included. Young hooker Scarra Ntubeni enters the Springboks environment for the first time while Frans Malherbe, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Louis Schreuder have been part of the national squad previously. Gio Aplon, who was part of the squad in June, and Johan Goosen, who recently returned after seven months out injured, also earn a call-up.
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"Scarra's inclusion, like that of Gio, is also just-reward for continuous great form," Meyer said. "He's still young and will learn a lot from our two front-line hookers, who both rate amongst the best in the world, on this tour. I want to expose him to this environment and the Springbok ethos and I'm very excited to work with him. It will be great to have Bakkies, Jaque and JP in the squad - all of them are really excited to play for the Springboks again, they have heaps of experience and are world-class players." South Africa begin their three-Test tour in Cardiff against Wales on November 9 and Meyer wants his side to build on their performances during the Rugby Championship. "The Welsh have won the Six Nations the last two seasons," he said. "It's our first Test against them since the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and they will be fired up at the Millennium Stadium." South Africa forwards: Willem Alberts, Bakkies Botha, Marcell Coetzee, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Francois Louw, Frans Malherbe, Tendai Mtawarira, Scarra Ntubeni, Coenie Oosthuizen, Gurthrow Steenkamp, Adriaan Strauss, Flip van der Merwe, DuanebVermeulen South Africa backs: Gio Aplon, Jean de Villiers (captain), Fourie du Preez, JJ Engelbrecht, Jaque Fourie, Johan Goosen, Bryan Habana, Zane Kirchner, Pat Lambie, Willie le Roux, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Louis Schreuder, Jan Serfontein, Morn Steyn © ESPN Sports Media Ltd. Download ESPN's new UK multisport app, a fresh and powerful new way to follow your favourite UK sports news, scores and video.
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