By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus on Wednesday named a trimmed-down 37-man squad for the opening two Tests of the Rugby Championship against Australia, with some high-profile omissions.
Several players have been released to their unions, potentially for Currie Cup duty, including World Cup winners Lukhanyo Am, Faf de Klerk and Makazole Mapimpi, while the Stormers trio of Salmaan Moerat, Evan Roos and Neethling Fouche also miss out, along with Sharks bruiser Vincent Tshituka who impressed against the Barbarians and Italy.
Other big names sitting out include Thomas du Toit, who is undergoing a compulsory two-week rest period in line with English Premiership protocols, and Jasper Wiese, who is serving a four-match suspension.
Erasmus also invited three Young Guns, who were members of the triumphant Junior Springbok World Rugby U20 Championship squad – Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste, and Haashim Pead – to train with the group during their two-week conditioning camp in Johannesburg starting on Sunday 27 July, to orientate them into the Springbok culture.
In total, Erasmus’ squad includes 20 forwards and 17 backline players.
The Springboks will face the Wallabies in Johannesburg on Saturday, August 16, and again a week later on 23 August in Cape Town.
“It’s always challenging to reduce the squad, especially given how the expanded group of players put up their hands during the Castle Lager Incoming Series, but we always said we would select a smaller, more manageable squad during the Castle Lager Rugby Championship,” said Erasmus.
“This group includes several experienced players and a few younger guys, who grabbed their chances in the last few Tests, so we are pleased with this squad for the first two matches.”
Erasmus elaborated on the squad’s composition: “We probably have three players who can cover each position, which is important in this competition, so it was a thorough process to narrow down the group to 36 players.
“One of our key pillars as a team is to build squad depth, and there is no better way to see what some of the younger players are capable of than to expose them to some of the top teams in the world.”
Erasmus expected a completely different challenge in the Rugby Championship to that against the Barbarians, Italy, and Georgia, and said: “Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina are all ranked in the top seven in the world, and if one considers that we won the Castle Lager Rugby Championship for the first time since 2019 last year, it is clear that this will be a completely different kettle of fish.
Springbok Squad for two tests against Australia:
Forwards
Props: Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls),Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Boan Venter (Edinburgh).
Hookers: Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets)
Locks: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), RG Snyman (Leinster), Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls)
Loose forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz),Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls)
Utility forwards: Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls)
Scrumhalves: Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers),), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks),
Flyhalves: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls),
Midfielders: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls)
Back three: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).