New skipper Strauss is Bok for the challenge

31 May 2016 - 09:36 By CRAIG RAY

Adriaan Strauss will lead the Springboks against Ireland at Newlands on June 11 after being named the 57th Springbok rugby captain yesterday. The hooker succeeds Victor Matfield, who led the Boks in the World Cup bronze medal match last year, and has only been appointed for the three-Test series against the Irish.The 30-year-old Strauss has played 57 matches for the Boks (54 Tests and three tour matches) and is one of only four players in the current 31-man squad with more than 50 caps.The current Bulls captain had a spell as Springbok vice-captain in 2012 and 2013 but never led the team. He is the eighth new captain this century and will become the fifth Bok captain in the last 12 months after the duties fell to Matfield, Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger and Fourie du Preez in 2015."The appointment is the right one. I believe Adriaan has paid his dues, come through the mill and represented SA from under-19 and under-21 to being vice-captain for the Boks," coach Allister Coetzee said."Adriaan knows his appointment is only for this series, but I have no doubt it could become a long-term appointment as well. "It was not a difficult decision. There are other franchise captains - Pat Lambie, Frans Malherbe and Tendai Mtawarira - in the squad and I called them in and told them. They will support him."One of the criteria is that the captain had to come from within the boundaries of the country," Coetzee added.Strauss immediately called his wife, Chantal, and later his mother, Franette, to pass on the good news."You don't dream of becoming a Springbok captain but I told the coach it needs to be best for the team. I'm excited and looking forward to the challenge," Strauss said."I've had the privilege to work with great captains and they have all been influential in my career. I might call one or two of them for advice."The Boks enjoyed their first training session on a warm day at Paul Roos Gymnasium's impressive Markotter Complex.Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jesse Kriel missed training with calf muscle and chest muscle injuries respectively, while the three overseas-based players - Duane Vermeulen, Steven Kitshoff and Francois Louw - will only join the squad next week...

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