Emerging Springboks vs Lions where are they now?

As the Lions gear up for their second Test match against New Zealand, we take a look back to when the tourists visited South Africa and faced the Emerging Springboks and see how those Emerging Springboks' players have faired since the match up.

15. Zane Kirchner

 

Kirchner made over 30 appearances for the Springboks and won 2 Super Rugby titles and one Currie with the Bulls making 81 appearances in Super Rugby before signing for Pro 12 side Leinster in 2013.

He went on to earn 82 caps for Leinster and scored 2 tries in their victorious Pro 12 final in 2014 before signing for Dragons ahead of the 2017/18 Pro 12 season.

14. Luzuko Vulindlu

 

Vulindlu made his Super Rugby debut for the Sharks ahead of the 2009 British and Irish Lions Tour but failed to cement a spot in the Super Rugby side.

He left the Sharks in 2011 and joined French side Agen for one season, before returning to South Africa with the Griquas.

Vulindlu got another crack at Super Rugby in 2016 with the Southern Kings and has since become a vital part of their starting XV.

13. Deon Van Rensburg 

 

Van Rensburg played the British and Irish Lions twice on the Tour, the other appearance for the Highveld XV.

After the tour, he continued his career with the Lions Super Rugby and Currie Cup sides until a persistent leg injury led to him missing the 2014 Currie Cup and eventually his retirement.

Van Rensburg made over 50 appearances for the Lions in Super Rugby.

12. Morgan Newman

 

Newman went on to represent Western Province 60 times in the Currie Cup before moving to the Cheetahs, in 2011, for a short spell before joining the EP Kings for a six-month spell later in that year.

He now plays club rugby in the Western Cape for one of South Africa's oldest clubs Hamiltons.

11. Bjorn Basson

 

Basson built a reputation around his fantastic ariel ability and sheer pace with the Bulls that lead to him earning 15 Test caps for the Springboks.

In 2017 he left the Bulls and joined the Stormers for the 2017 Super Rugby season and has made over 90 appearances in the competition.

10. Earl Rose

 

Rose continued to play for the Cats in Super Rugby before moving to the Stormers in 2011.

He spent one season with the Stormers before joining the Griquas later the year.

Rose represented the Griquas in the 2011 Currie Cup before he moved back to the Western Cape where he plays club rugby.

9. Jano Vermaak

 

Vermaak continued to represent the Lions until 2011 when he was signed by the Bulls.

In 2013 he was called into the Springbok squad and made his Test debut against Italy.

A move to France saw him join Toulouse where he spent two seasons before returning to South Africa to join the Stormers.

Vermaak has 3 Test caps to his name and he most recently played for the South Africa A side against the French Barbarians.

8. Duane Vermuelen

Duane Vermeulen went on to represent the Springboks at the 2015 Rugby World Cup and has accumlated 37 Test caps for South Africa.

The powerful eighth man currently plies his trade with Top 14 side Toulon and was a World Rugby Player of the Year Nominee in 2014.

7. Dewald Potgieter (captain)

Potgieter made his Test debut against Ireland in 2009, a few months after leading the Emerging Springboks to an exciting 13-13 draw against the British & Irish Lions. Potgieter was part of the Bulls team that won back-to-back Super Rugby titles in 2009 and 2010.

He left the Bulls after the 2014 Super Rugby season and joined Japanese side Jubilo where he spent 3 years. 

In 2016, the 8 test cap Springbok joined English side Worcester Warriors and recently signed a contract extension with the side.

6.  Jean Deysel

 

Deysel earned 4 Springbok Test caps and made over 150 appearances for the Sharks before he joined Pro12 side Munster.

He helped Munster to a Champions Cup semi-finalf and a Pro12 Final before signing a deal to join Ulster for the 2017/18 season.

5. Steven Sykes

 

The talented second-rower impressed the Springbok coaching staff and was named on the bench to face the British and Irish Lions in the second test.

He unfortunately not able to make his debut in the match. Sykes spent a large portion of his career with the Sharks before joining Leinster in 2011 for a short stint.

He returned to the Shark in 2012 before joining the Southern Kings where he stayed until the end of the 2016 Super Rugby season when he left the side to join Pro D2 club Oyonnax.

4. Wilhelm Steenkamp

 

Steenkamp moved around Super Rugby clubs as he represented the Bulls, Sharks, Cheetahs and Western Force before joining Top 14 side Brive in 2016.

3. Werner Kruger 

 

Kruger made over 116 Super Rugby appearances for the Bulls and earned his test debut against Australia in 2011.

He made 3 other appearances for the Springboks before signing for Scarlets in 2016 and helped the side to victory in the 2016/17 Pro12 final.

2. Bandise  Maku

 

Maku made his Springbok debut in 2010 against Italy and went on to win the Super Rugby title with the Bulls in 2009.

At the end of the 2016 Currie Cup, Maku announced his retirement from the game. His career saw him represent the Lions, Bulls, Southern Kings and Springboks.

He retired with 1 Test cap to his name, and is now employed with the Bulls as a franchise co-ordinator

1. Wian Du Preez

 

Du Preez made his Test debut against Itlay in 2009 before joining Irish side Munster where he spent 3 years before he returned to South Africa for a brief stint and then Lyon ahead of the 2014/15 season.

He retired from professional rugby in 2016.

Replacements: 

Tiaan Liebenberg

Liebenberg continued to be a vital cog in the Stormers Super Rugby pack and made his official test debuted against Australia 2012, having represented the Springboks against the Barbarian in 2007.

He retired after the 2014 Currie Cup and is now the head coach of the Central University of Technology in the Free State. 

Pat Cilliers

Cillers represented the Sharks until 2011 when he moved to the Lions. He spent two seasons with the Lions before joining the Stormers for the 2013 Super Rugby season. 

He made his Test debut for the Springboks in August 2012 vs Argentina and made a further five Test appearances before signing for Montpellier in 2014.

He now plies his trade with English side Leicester Tigers.

Franco van der Merwe

Van der Merwe made his Springbok debut against  New Zealand in 2013, which remains his only test cap, and recently left Irish side Ulster to sign for Cardiff Blues.

Jacques Botes

Botes become a Sharks legend making over 200 appearances for the Durban-based side (Currie Cup + Super Rugby) before retiring in 2014.

He retired as the most-capped Currie Cup player in the competition's history.

Heini Adams

Adams made 2 Test appearances for South Africa in 2009 before he moved to Bordeaux. He retired from proffessional rugby in 2015 and has since been involved in coaching. 

In 2017, he joined the coaching staff of the French Barbarians that played against South African A.

Willem de Waal

The 31-year-old, at the time, converted Danwel Demas' try in the final play of the match to draw the game.  

De Waal did not go on to represent the Springboks but instead moved to France and linked up with Benetton Treviso before retiring in 2012.

Danwel Demas

Demas furthered his career in France when he joined Pro D2 side Aironi in 2010. He returned to South Africa in 2011 and at the age of 35 represents Boland Cavaliers.