Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has indicated that he will use mostly northern hemisphere based players to fulfill the Boks' Test fixture against Wales in Cardiff on June 5. The Independent's Peter Bills runs the rule over some of the selection possibilities.
"In France, the likes of Joe van Niekerk, Shaun Sowerby, Ross Skeate, Gerrie Britz, Francois van der Merwe, Jacques Cronje and Daan Human would all come to mind for slots in the pack. Behind the scrum, Marius Joubert is fit again and playing well for Clermont Auvergne while Frans Steyn (Racing Metro) Philip Burger (Perpignan), Noel Oelschig (Stade Francais) and Brent Russell from Clermont could also be considered.
"From Ireland, the Springboks could draw Jean de Villiers, BJ Botha and CJ van der Linde. The versatility of van der Linde means that he could fill in on either side of the front row. In England there are many candidates.
"Bath's exciting late challenge for a place in the Guinness Premiership play-offs has been spurred by the outstanding form of three South Africans; half-backs Butch James and Michael Claassens plus No. 8 Luke Watson. They have helped lift a side that, back in January, seemed likelier to be facing a struggle against relegation than contesting the Premiership title in one of the play-off places. Then there is lock forward Marco Wentzel who has been a huge inspiration to Leeds Carnegie in their successful bid for Premiership survival."
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