Springbok coach Peter de Villiers can do a lot worse than call up World Cup-winning flyhalf Butch James, despite the veteran No.10 playing for Bath in the Guinness Premiership.

James' Bath teammate and fellow Springbok Michael Claassens, speaking ahead of their Guinness Premiership semifinal showdown with against London Wasps at Adams Park on Sunday, was adamant that James is still South Africa's premier flyhalf.

The Bok duo have been instrumental in Bath's dramatic rise up the European ranks — making it to the European Challenge Cup Final (where they will play Worcester Warriors next Sunday, 25 May) and finishing third in the Premiership standings.

That came after last year when they finished outside the top six and failed to reach either the domestic play-offs or Europe's main club competition, the Heineken Cup.

Having partnered James in both the Premiership and Challenge Cup this season, Claassens is perfectly placed to make a judgment call on the World Cup Bok's form.

"It would be silly not to select Butch James for the Springbok team," Claassens told the Bloemfontein-based radio station OFM sport in an interview from Bath.

De Villiers will name his first national training squad on Saturday and all indications are only one or two of the players currently [plying their trade abroad will feature in the new Bok mentor's team this year.

World Cup-winning captain John Smit has already been handed back the Bok team leader's armband and star lock Victor Matfield — who is returning from French club Toulon next month — is said to be in line for a call-up as well.

However, it is not certain if De Villiers will include James in his list of 'Bok foreigners'.

"Butch has made an enormous difference since he joined Bath," Claassens told OFM.

"He has so much experience and he remains calm and collected under the most intense pressure. He made an enormous difference here at Bath and is in the best form of his life," the Bok scrumhalf added.

James was also a key player in the Boks' victory at the World Cup in France last year, where they beat England 15-6 in the Final.

Although Stormers star Peter Grant has been in impressive form in the Super 14, Claassens is adamant that James remains the country's premier No.10.

Claassens, who is also enjoying his stint in European rugby and producing some world class performances, has been named Bath's backline player of the year.

He admitted that, like James, he is keen to play for South Africa again — although they know that De Villiers won't name a host of players from abroad.

"Yes, I would certainly love to play for the Boks again," he told OFM.

"I still have one year left on my contract here at Bath, but after that I would certainly consider returning to South Africa to continue my career at home."

365