Make the circle bigger

STORMERS prop Neethling Fouche has been picked as one of the oldest rookies in coach Rassie Erasmus’ 54-man training squad for the upcoming international season.

Eramus picked the same 54 players he recently invited to a Springbok alignment camp in Cape Town to a first sweat session that will start on Monday, 8 June, in Johannesburg.

The 32-year-old Fouche, who has been part of previous Springbok camps, is one of nine uncapped players in Erasmus’ giant group.

Ex-Stormers eighthman Juarno “Trokkie” Augustus, University of Cape Town winger Ntokozo Makhaza, Scarlets hooker Marnus van der Merwe, Lions prop Asenati Ntlabakanye, Bulls lock Cobus Wiese, Lions looseforward Renzo du Plessis and Sharks duo Vincent Thsituka (flank) and Ethan Hooker (wing) are the other uncapped manne.

Meanwhile four Stomers ysters, Frans Malherbe (prop), Ben-Jason Dixon and Deon Fourie were not picked because of injury as broken Bulls backrower Elrigh Louw also misses out.

However, the miskyk of Stormers No.8 Evan Roos will again raise eyebrows after Erasmus wysed after last month’s alignment camp that players that were not selected are still innie mix.  

Of sticking with the same 54 in preparation ahead of a 28 June clash against the Barbarians in Cape Town, Erasmus says: “We were very pleased with the two Springbok alignment camps we hosted, and we are excited to have the luxury of announcing a squad with so much depth and talent.”

Erasmus used a group of 50 players last year.

Springbok squad: Forwards: Juarno Augustus, Lood de Jager, Renzo du Plessis, Jean-Luc du Preez, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Neethling Fouche, Cameron Hanekom, Jean Kleyn, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Salmaan Moerat, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Tshituka, Marco van Staden, Marnus van der Merwe, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese, Jasper Wiese. Backs: Lukhanyo Am, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Faf de Klerk, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker, Quan Horn, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Makazole Mapimpi, Ntokozo Makhaza, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg, Edwilll van der Merwe, Damian Willemse, Grant Williams .