Springbok coach Allister Coetzee’s 33-man squad for the Rugby Championships was just about as good as he could do under the circumstances with few surprises and only minor shock-value omissions.

Lions wing Ruan Combrinck’s absence was the biggest surprise although Coetzee may have seen something in his defence that nagged at the back of his mind.

In the Super Rugby semi-final against the Hurricanes and particularly in the final against the Crusaders‚ the New Zealanders attacked the Lions right flank mercilessly.

Crusaders left wing Seta Tamanivalu spent most of the opening half hour of the final probing and making yards down the Lions right flank. Combrinck was not alone in battling to contain the bruising wing‚ but as it was in his channel it raised a red flag.

The squad though‚ was in all likelihood signed off before the Super Rugby final to eliminate emotional decisions based on performances‚ both positive and negative‚ in a single game.

So Combrinck’s omission puzzles. His 2017 Super Rugby stats make decent reading considering he missed a large part of the campaign due to injury‚ only playing 557 minutes all season.

Combrinck scored five tries‚ made 10 line breaks and five tackle breaks and only missed five tackles all season.

Throw in a strong boot and the ability to kick for goal – his match-winning 55m penalty in the Super Rugby quarterfinal springs to mind – and his absence is curious.

It’s especially curious when weighed up against incumbent right wing Raymond Rhule. The Cheetahs flyer missed 38 tackles in Super Rugby – the most by any player in the competition.

He also made 37 handling errors and doesn’t have a tactical kicking game to speak of.

Coetzee will engage with the media this week but so far there has been no clarity and what abilities and criteria the coach used when considering his options.

But he did leave the door open for players that missed out‚ to find their way into the squad.

"Some players have initially missed out on selection due to various reasons‚ but this squad is not cast in stone and changes can be made as we progress through the tournament‚” Coetzee said on Saturday.

Bulls fullback Warrick Gelant and prop Lizo Gqoboka‚ Sharks flyhalf/fullback Curwin Bosch and No 8 Dan du Preez are the four uncapped players in the squad and all are worthy of their place.

Bosch‚ 20‚ is mercurial but is a very promising work in progress. He has great attacking and tactical intelligence‚ which exceeds his experience but he is also suspect defensively.

How the Bok management will handle the youngster‚ especially with the established Elton Jantjies and Handré Pollard in the mix‚ will be interesting.

The Sharks have employed Bosch at fullback but with Gelant‚ Dillyn Leyds and incumbent Andries Coetzee in the squad‚ it seems improbable that the Bok management are looking at Bosch as anything other than flyhalf.

Pollard has had an injury-plagued two seasons‚ but he was superb in 2014 and 2015 at international level and has proven ability at sharp end of the sport.

The Boks’ only win over the All Blacks in the past five years (at Ellis Park in 2014) was inspired by a brilliant Pollard performance.

No 8 Warren Whiteley has been ruled out for a further six weeks due to a groin injury so lock Eben Etzebeth is set to entrench himself as Bok captain after leading the side in the third Test against France in June.

"Warren's absence is a massive blow for the Springboks and for him personally‚" said Coetzee.

"I really feel for him but I am sure he will get back stronger. It gives an opportunity for another player now and I am sure there will be very strong competition for the No 8 jersey."

Springbok squad:

Forwards: Uzair Cassiem‚ Lood de Jager‚ Dan du Preez‚ Jean-Luc du Preez‚ Pieter-Steph du Toit‚ Eben Etzebeth‚ Lizo Gqoboka‚ Steven Kitshoff‚ Siya Kolisi‚ Jaco Kriel‚ Frans Malherbe‚ Malcolm Marx‚ Bongi Mbonambi‚ Teboho Mohoje‚ Franco Mostert‚ Tendai Mtawarira‚ Trevor Nyakane‚ Coenie Oosthuizen‚ Chiliboy Ralepelle.

Backs: Curwin Bosch‚ Andries Coetzee‚ Ross Cronje‚ Damian de Allende‚ Warrick Gelant‚ Francois Hougaard‚ Elton Jantjies‚ Jesse Kriel‚ Dillyn Leyds‚ Rudy Paige‚ Handré Pollard‚ Raymond Rhule‚ Jan Serfontein‚ Courtnall Skosan‚ Francois Venter.

- SowetanLIVE