The Sprinbok squad suffered another setback. Victor Matfield, star line out jumper and man-of-the-match in the World Cup final, has withdrawn from the squad for personal reasons. Matfield wanted to stay in SA and reconsider his future and SA Rugby has agreed to give the superstar some time off. Matfield’s replacement in the squad is uncapped Free State lock, Barend Pieterse. Pieterse has been a fantastic player for the Cheetahs the last few seasons and many pundits considered him to be unlucky not to have been picked for the Springboks earlier in his career.

SA rugby also announced that John Smit will not captain the Springbok side that plays against the Barbarians due to his new club, Clermont Ferrand not releasing him for the game. Smit will be replaced in the squad to face the Baabaas by WP hooker, Tiaan Liebenberg. The game versus the Barbarians does not have test status so even if Liebenberg plays against the Baabaas he will not be capped as a Springbok.

Tags: SA-Rugby, SARFU, Springboks, Squad, test-match, Test-Rugby