Springboks drop Botha and Mtawarira

Front row pair BJ Botha and Tendai Mtawarira are among five player that have been dropped from the South Africa squad to face New Zealand in their Tri Nations encounter in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Coach Peter de Villiers, who had named an expanded 29-man list for a training camp last week, has also left out the suspended centre Jaque Fourie and injured pair Frans Steyn and Ryan Kankowski.

Other notable absentees are lock Andries Bekker and scrum-half Ruan Pienaar, both still sidelined with knocks.

The match 22 is set to be announced tomorrow.

Meanwhile, France-based utility back Steyn has blasted suggestions he no longer has the heart to play for the Springboks.

The Racing Metro player was injured in pre-season game 10 days ago and has since been ruled out of the clash at FNB Stadium.

Prior to his omission, though, there had been several reports of a break-down in communication between himself and De Villiers.

But speaking to Rapport, he said: “If it’s just up to me, nothing will keep me from the Springbok team.

“I have the heart to play for the Boks and will die for my country on the field.”

Steyn is still in the frame for selection in the remaining two home Tri Nations games against Australia on August 28 and September 4, but concedes he has to wait for permission from his club before travelling to South Africa.

He continued: “I have not yet been released by Racing Metro and can’t just go AWOL.

“I have a contract with them that I have to honour. I don’t have a Bok contract.”

And he revealed how travelling to his homeland earlier this year landed him in hot water, saying: “I thought the necessary clearance had been asked and granted. After flying to South Africa at my own expense, I heard that everything had not been done.

“Pierre Berbizier (Racing Metro coach) said on my return that they would not stand in my way to play for my country, but that things have to be done in the correct manner in the future and that the correct protocol had to be followed.”

Steyn, who held much publicised face-to-face talks with the De Villiers on May 28, also blamed the national coach for not sticking to his promises.

He added: “Peter gave me the assurance at an emergency meeting on May 28 that he would travel to France and sort things out with the club.

“He has not been there yet and I have not spoken to him since the Wales Test (the last time he turned out for the Springboks).

“I heard after the Test that he said that the guys playing in Europe are not good enough for the Boks and that the Southern Hemisphere’s pace is much quicker.

“I don’t have a Bok contract. And now I have to hear that I don’t have the heart to play for the Boks.

“I phoned the coach last week and left a message for him on his phone. I gave him the assurance that I’m still eager to play for South Africa.”

South Africa squad:

Forwards: Schalk Burger (Stormers), Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), Francois Louw (Stormers), Victor Matfield (Bulls), Dewald Potgieter (Bulls), Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls), Danie Rossouw (Bulls), John Smit (Sharks), Juan Smith (Cheetahs), Pierre Spies (Bulls), Gurthro Steenkamp (Bulls), CJ van der Linde (Cheetahs), Flip van der Merwe (Bulls).

Backs: Gio Aplon (Stormers), Juan de Jongh (Stormers), Jean de Villiers (Stormers), Bryan Habana (Stormers), Francois Hougaard (Bulls), Ricky Januarie (Stormers), Butch James (Bath), Zane Kirchner (Bulls), Wynand Olivier (Bulls), JP Pietersen (Sharks), Morne Steyn (Bulls).