Coach Jacques Nienaber has recalled wings Sbu Nkosi and Kurt-Lee Arendse to his squad for Saturday’s final Castle Lager Rugby Championship test, but it was the confirmation that Damian Willemse is definitely out and the cancellation of one option that was more significant part of the Springbok return home press.
The Boks have been in the air for much of the time since leaving Argentina so there is no media conference set for Monday, but they issued a press release confirming the return of the two wings while also releasing four players to their clubs and franchises.
The four players are hooker Joseph Dweba, who will link up with his new franchise, the DHL Stormers, ahead of Saturday’s opening Vodacom United Rugby Championship game against Connacht, utility back Warrick Gelant, Vodacom Bulls No 8 Elrigh Louw and Stormers lock Salmaan Moerat.
The release of Gelant, who has left the Stormers and will continue his club career in France, was significant in that it cancels out the option of starting with Willie le Roux at flyhalf. For Le Roux to wear the No 10 in the deciding Castle Lager Rugby Championship test against Argentina in Durban on Saturday, it would have required Gelant to slot into his usual position of fullback.
So, with it also being confirmed that Willemse has returned to the Stormers to undergo return to play concussion protocols, that strengthens the chances of Frans Steyn being the man the Boks will rely on to wear the No 10 jersey at Kings Park on Saturday. Faf de Klerk and Le Roux will be the back-ups.
Nkosi, formerly with the Sharks but now with the Bulls, has recovered from the ankle injury that kept him out of Bok action the entire year so far, while Arendse has served his suspension for a dangerous tackle in the match against the All Blacks in Nelspruit and is back in selection contention.
Dweba, Gelant, Louw and Moerat have been released to their respective clubs to allow them to get valuable game time as the Boks have a one-month break before gathering to prepare for the year-end tour, which will feature tests against Ireland (5 November), France (12 November), Italy (19 November) and England (26 November) and mid-week matches against Munster (10 November) and the Bristol Bears (17 November) respectively.
“We have been pretty unlucky at wing in the last few months in terms of injuries, which has forced our hand at giving players such as Kurt-Lee and Canan (Moodie) a chance at international level, and we are pleased with the depth we are now building as we get closer toward the Rugby World Cup next year,” said Nienaber.
“Kurt-Lee had a great debut and played very well against the All Blacks, but he was unfortunately banned, and we are delighted to have him back as he’s a very talented player. Sbu has been in our system for several years now and he has recovered from injury, so we are excited to welcome him back. He has shown his class in several big matches, and he brings experience, so he will undoubtedly add great value to the squad.
“This also allows us an opportunity to take stock of the depth we have at wing as we are now a year out from the Rugby World Cup in France,” he added.
Commenting on the players released to their clubs, Nienaber said since they had an idea of the match-23 they would like to select for Saturday’s rematch against Argentina, it made sense to grant those players an opportunity to build their game time with the year-end tour around the corner.
“This year alone we have given close to 50 players an opportunity to play, so we have certainly ticked the box of creating squad depth, which is one of our key pillars for the team,” said the Bok coach.
“We are, however, going into our last match of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship and we think it would be more beneficial for these players to return to their clubs and provinces to gain valuable game time. We have a long and challenging year-end tour ahead, which will involve an expanded squad, and we need the players to be match fit so we can hit the ground running when depart for the tour.”
Nienaber will announce his match-day squad for the return clash with Argentina on Tuesday.