By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named a 36-man squad for their upcoming Rugby Championship tour to New Zealand, where they will play back-to-back Tests against the All Blacks next month.
Erasmus retained almost the entire squad that featured in the opening two rounds against Australia, with only Cobus Wiese dropping out and veteran wing Makazole Mapimpi recalled to bolster the back three stocks in the absence of Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe.
South Africa face the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland on 6 September before moving to Sky Stadium in Wellington a week later – matches that could prove decisive in a Rugby Championship campaign where all four teams currently sit on one win apiece.
Erasmus said the squad’s familiarity and fitness would be key in tackling the toughest away trip in world rugby.
“This group of players have been working hard together since our first training camp in June, and most of them have been playing together for years, while the newer players in the squad showed in the Castle Lager Incoming Series and in the last two matches against Australia that they are ready for this challenge,” he explained.
There was further good news with Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Willie le Roux and Jan-Hendrik Wessels all cleared to play, while Erasmus confirmed that all the players who faced Australia in Cape Town have received a clean bill of health and will be ready to face the All Blacks.
Jasper Wiese remains suspended for the first Test but will be available in Wellington.
Erasmus underlined the scale of the task, pointing to the form of all four Rugby Championship sides and the long-running rivalry with New Zealand.
“Facing the All Blacks in New Zealand is a massive challenge, but all the teams in this competition are ranked among the top sides in the world, and each one has the potential to beat one another on the day. We won our last four matches against them dating back to 2023, which marked only the second time in history that we defeated them four times in a row, and there is no doubt that will motivate both teams.”
The squad departs for New Zealand on Tuesday, giving them time to acclimatise before a tour Erasmus believes could define the season.
Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship Tests against New Zealand:
Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Backs: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).