South Africa appoint Warren Whiteley as captain for France Test series
Tuesday 23 May 2017 15:41, UK
Warren Whiteley has been named South Africa captain ahead of their Test series against France next month.
The Lions No 8, who has only 15 international caps, will lead an inexperienced squad featuring eight uncapped players, which was confirmed on Tuesday by coach Allister Coetzee.
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Whiteley replaces previous captain Adriaan Strauss, who retired from Test rugby at the end of last season.
Lukhanyo Am, Andries Coetzee, Ross Cronje, Dillyn Leyds, Raymond Rhule, Courtnall Skosan, Ruan Dreyer and Lizo Gqoboka are the uncapped players named by Coetzee.
To temper that, Coetzee has recalled six players who boast more than 200 Test caps; Frans Steyn, Jan Serfontein, Francois Hougaard, Duane Vermeulen, Coenie Oosthuizen and Chiliboy Ralepelle.
Steyn has not played for the Springboks since 2012 while Ralepelle is back after an absence dating back to 2013.
But there is no place for fly-half Pat Lambie who, Coetzee said, is still suffering concussion symptoms.
The Springboks will face France on June 10 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, followed by Tests at Kings Park in Durban (June 17) and Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg (June 24).
South Africa squad:
Forwards: Lood de Jager (Bulls), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), Ruan Dreyer (Lions), Etzebeth (Stormers), Steven Kitshoff (Bordeaux-Begles), Siya Kolisi (Stormers), Jaco Kriel (Lions), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Lions), Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers), Oupa Mohoje (Cheetahs), Franco Mostert (Lions), Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), Lizo Gqoboka (Bulls), Coenie Oosthuizen (Sharks), Chiliboy Ralepelle (Sharks), Duane Vermeulen (Toulon), Warren Whiteley (Lions, captain),
Backs: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Andries Coetzee (Lions), Ross Cronje (Lions), Damian de Allende (Stormers), Francois Hougaard (Worcester), Elton Jantjies (Lions), Jesse Kriel (Bulls), Dillyn Leyds (Stormers), Rudy Paige (Bulls), Raymond Rhule (Cheetahs), Jan Serfontein (Bulls), Courtnall Skosan (Lions), Frans Steyn (Montpellier).
