By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth has been cleared to face New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday after completing all the training sessions.
The 124-cap Springbok had originally been excluded from the squad that was announced on Tuesday due to a knee injury, but head coach Rassie Erasmus hinted that he could make a return to the squad.
A day later, the Springboks have confirmed that the double World Cup winner will indeed make the squad, replacing Marco van Staden on the bench at Ellis Park.
Etzebeth’s inclusion means he could theoretically overtake Victor Matfield as the most capped Springbok this Rugby Championship.
“Our selection policy has always been that if a player does not train on a Monday he will not play on Saturday, but Eben has made it through training pain-free all week, so we had to make the tough call to name him in the squad at the expense of Marco,” said Erasmus.
“There were back-up options for us at lock in the initial squad, but with Eben on the bench it means we have another specialist in that position in the team.
“We are blessed to have an expanded squad of about 45 players who have all bought into our plans and who understand what’s best for the team, and it’s admirable how Marco accepted the news. It shows the quality of the player and person he is.”
Meanwhile, Erasmus released four players – Steven Kitshoff (prop), Manie Libbok (flyhalf), Canan Moodie and Makazole Mapimpi (both wings) – to their provincial unions on Wednesday afternoon to get game time in the Carling Currie Cup this weekend.
Updated line-up to face the All Blacks
Springboks – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Handre Pollard.
Meanwhile supporters who will be attending the Springboks’ last three Tests in South Africa this year – against New Zealand and Argentina in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship – will be able to help empower the next generation of players by donating previously loved boots, balls, kit and equipment at the SA Rugby Kit Drop in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Nelspruit.
All donations will be refurbished and redistributed to underprivileged communities with the aim of helping children and grassroots clubs have access to the game that we all love.
Each item that is donated will also be assigned a unique number which allows the donor to be entered into a lucky draw to stand a chance of winning a jersey that has been signed by the SA Rugby Legends.
Fans are urged to be on the lookout for the following matchday collection points and to make a difference in the lives of other rugby players:
Johannesburg, 31 August 2024:
Matchday park and ride venues at St Johns College, East Gate Shopping Centre and the Sportsnation Offices in Roodepoort, as well as the north, west, and southeast entrances to Emirates Airline Park.
Cape Town, 7 September 2024:
Matchday park and ride venues at Century City and the University of Cape Town, as well as the Forecourt entrance (open area next to McDonalds near gates 1 to 11) to the DHL Stadium.