Missing skippers shocks Boks

Ommission of three national leaders may be a costly decision

Last updated: 23rd April 2009  

Missing skippers shocks Boks

Ryan Jones: Wales skipper

The one thing that surprised me was that the leaders of three home nations weren't included in the squad - the guys that play under those guys respect them.

Pieter de Villiers
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South Africa coach Pieter de Villiers has admitted he is surprised that the captains of England, Scotland and Wales are not a part of the Lions tour party.

Head coach Ian McGeechan named a 37-man squad on Tuesday but there was no place in it for England's Steve Borthwick, Scot Mike Blair or Wales skipper Ryan Jones.

De Villiers believes that the decision could be a costly one.

"The one thing that surprised me was that the leaders of three home nations weren't included in the squad - the guys that play under those guys respect them," the Springboks coach said.

"Those are the guys that can stand up in meetings and try to resolve small niggles and things that can evolve on a long tour like this.

De Villiers also questioned whether McGeechan had erred in trying to pack his team with physically imposing players who could combat the powerful Boks.

"If McGeechan wants to sit down and try to match the Springboks then I think that is the wrong thing," he added.

"If he wants to say 'this is our strength, this is how we want to play the game, these are the people who can do the job for me' then I can justify any selection he has made.

"But I will not sit down and say 'they are going to do this, so I should do this'. I am more focused on what I want to do and I will find the talent and the players to do the job for us."