Rassie's alignment camp gives several talking points

The inclusion of Ulsterman Marcell Coetzee and Lions talisman Kwagga Smith in the Springbok alignment camp that starts on Monday in Pretoria adds quite a bit of spice in terms of debates on Springbok selections.

The 26-man squad, which will spend the next fortnight in the capital city, doesn't include the Cell C Sharks and Vodacom Bulls players, and there will be more than a handful of them joining the squad when they get back from a week off and are in camp from next week.

But in the mean-time, and it may well be that we are looking at the bigger picture rather than the detail, Erasmus' selections have shown how wide he has thrown the net in his search for talent for the Rugby World Cup this year.

It also tends to give another indication, and that is that if you are outside the Bulls and Sharks squads and not in the 26-man squad named this week, the likelihood is that you probably shouldn't be counting on a plane ticket to Japan with the rest of the team.

Injuries and some strange selections may come into play, but for the most part, Erasmus has been consistent in his selections and communicating with players about where they stand.

So the first thing that stands out is the names that are not in the 26-man squad - namely the likes of Jan Serfontein, Bismarck du Plessis, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Warren Whiteley, Lionel Mapoe and interestingly enough Francois Louw to name just a few.

Whitely is injured, but the inclusion of an injured player such as Lood de Jager raises eyebrows, but it may just be that Whiteley isn't likely to feature in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship while De Jager is a week or so out from being declared fit again.

Also interesting is the omission of Damian Willemse from the 26 names, and while he is still out with a knee injury, he should be back in a few weeks while Eben Etzebeth, who was injured in the same week as Willemse, and is halfway through a six-week stint on the sideline, is in the squad.

Still, the overseas contingent are the ones making the headlines, not the least for Coetzee's irrepressible form in Ireland, but also for Cobus Reinach, who received a well-deserved call-up after a superb English season as well.

Frans Steyn's versatility and experience brought him into the squad, and it will be hoped he will capture some of the form that made him a Bok, while Reinardt Elstadt's form for the French champions Toulouse has made him a surprise call-up, and no doubt his physicality will be key for the Boks this year.

The overseas-based regulars are all there in Vincent Koch, Faf de Klerk, Willie le Roux, Franco Mostert and the irrepressible Cheslin Kolbe, while Herschel Jantjies is the only player who has fought his way into contention locally among the 26.

In essence, the same core of the team that Erasmus focused on throughout the last year is likely to be there, with perhaps one or two surprises.

It is hard to tell, but clearly the front row, halfback and looseforward positions aren't sewn up yet, and while it is expected that the likes of Lizo Gqoboka will force his way into the squad on his current form, it is uncertain about whether Embrose Papier or Ivan van Zyl will be there next week.

Both players were omitted from the last alignment camp and Andre Warner has been holding down the No 1 spot ahead of them in the rotational moves by the Bulls, so it will be interesting to see if they are added to the mix.

Forwards: Schalk Brits (Vodacom Bulls), Marcell Coetzee (Ulster, Ireland), Lood de Jager (Vodacom Bulls), Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers), Rynardt Elstadt (Toulouse, France), Eben Etzebeth (DHL Stormers), Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), Vincent Koch (Saracens, England), Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Emirates Lions), Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers), Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), Franco Mostert (Gloucester, England), Marvin Orie (Emirates Lions), Kwagga Smith (Emirates Lions).

Backs: Damian de Allende (DHL Stormers), Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks, England), Aphiwe Dyantyi (Emirates Lions), Elton Jantjies (Emirates Lions), Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse, France), Dillyn Lleyds (DHL Stormers), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz, Japan), Cobus Reinach (Northampton Saints, England), Frans Steyn (Montpellier, France).