Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus sent a clear signal out on the Bok intentions going into their three match November tour by selecting close to his strongest available squad, rather than continuing to experiment and blood young talent on the tour.
Erasmus selected a 34-man squad that included 28 Rugby World Cup winners from 2023 for the side’s three match tour that will include tests against Scotland, England and Wales over the course of November.
The decision meant that several players who had become part of the squad during the Incoming Tours and Rugby Championship were excluded while others that have been pressing hard for selection - including the likes of Bulls prop Wilco Louw and loose forward Cameron Hanekom, will have to wait longer to get their chance.
There was also a long injury list of players that could not be selected, including the likes of World Cup winners Faf de Klerk, Lood de Jager and Steven Kitshoff, who are all on the sidelines at the moment, as well as others who are injured such as utility back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, flanker Ruan Venter and lock Salmaan Moerat.
The decision to select the tried and tested core that won back-to-back World Cup tournaments shows the seriousness that Erasmus and his management are taking this tour, and the hope they will return home unbeaten.
The other part is that with the British and Irish Lions touring Australia in 2025, and France heading to New Zealand, the Incoming Tours next season will be a combination of Italy and Georgia, which will be ample time to give some of the younger players time to settle in at national level.
Four Rugby World Cup winners return to the #Springboks squad for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour to Scotland, England and Wales - more here: https://t.co/yWX1WaNyYd 💥#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/8jFRykeunI
— Springboks (@Springboks) October 22, 2024
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With all of that in mind, there are very few surprises in the squad, which has a very familiar look and feel to it.
The props selected include Thomas du Toit (Bath) and Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls), both of whom have been regulars alongside the likes of Ox Nche, Frans Malherbe and Vincent Koch while both hookers are automatic choices for the team for any test. Jan-Hendrik Wessels will continue his apprenticeship as the team’s “swinger”, covering both prop and hooker as the extra forward on tour.
At lock Franco Mostert has returned from injury to take his place in the side, while Ruan Nortje’s recent showing in the Rugby Championship has earned him a spot alongside regulars such as RG Snyman and the most capped Springbok of all time, Eben Etzebeth.
Siya Kolisi captains the side again, which is hardly a surprise, and the regular loose trio of Jasper Wiese and Pieter-Steph du Toit are joined by the Bulls duo of Elrigh Louw and Marco van Staden, both who have become regulars in the squad over the past year. Kwagga Smith is also part of the squad.
There is no place for players such as Ben-Jason Dixon, who played in the Rugby Championship while Evan Roos and Ruan Venter are both injured at the moment and not available for selection.
Faf de Klerk missed out through injury, while Morne van den Bergh drops out of selection as Grant Williams, Jaden Hendrikse and Cobus Reinach fill the halfback spots, with Manie Libbok and Handre Pollard the two flyhalves selected.
In the midfield, Andre Esterhuizen joins the other three midfielders in Jesse Kriel, Lukhanyo Am and Damian de Allende, who all did duty in the Rugby Championship while there are several familiar faces in the back three as well.
At wing, the Boks sport their two biggest steppers in Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe again, alongside Makazole Mapimpi and Canan Moodie while they are overflowing with options at the back with Damian Willemse and Aphelele Fassi, both who won man of the match awards this past weekend joining in-form Willie le Roux in the squad.
Le Roux is currently on 97 tests and it will be interesting to see if Erasmus lets him get to 100 on the tour, or if Fassi and Willemse share the fullback duties. There was also no place for Jordan Hendrikse, who made his debut against Wales earlier this year.
Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour:
Props: Thomas du Toit (Bath), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls).
Hookers: Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), RG Snyman (Leinster).
Loose forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Utility forward: Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls).
Scrumhalves: Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers).
Centres: Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).
Outside backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).
Players who were part of Bok set-up this year but not included
Props: Steven Kitshoff (injured), Trevor Nyakane, Ntuthuko Mchunu
Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar, Andre-Hugo Venter
Locks: Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Salmaan Moerat (injured)
Loose forwards Ben-Jason Dixon, Phepsi Buthelezi, Evan Roos (injured), Ruan Venter (injured)
Scrumhalves : Faf de Klerk (injured), Morne van den Berg
Flyhalves: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (injured), Jordan Hendrikse
Wings: Edwill van der Merwe
Fullbacks: Quan Horn