Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus boosted his squad for the two Castle lager Rugby Championship tests against New Zealand by adding five World Cup winners to an already impressive group of players, but did save one small surprise in bringing back Montpellier lock Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg as cover at lock.
Erasmus, as expected, returned the likes of prop Steven Kitshoff, scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse and utility back Canan Moodie to the squad after they recovered from injury and proved their fitness in Carling Currie Cup games.
Kitshoff missed the start of the international season with a knee injury, while Hendrikse had a shoulder injury and Moodie a fractured finger.
Erasmus also recalled both No 8 Jasper Wiese and midfielder Andre Esterhuizen after they completed their suspension.
Wiese’s suspension was six weeks after a red card in his final club game for Leicester Tigers, while Esterhuizen was suspended after a red card for a head clash against Portugal in Bloemfontein last month.
Three RWC winners have been included in the #Springboks squad for the first time this year - more here: https://t.co/Eid4mB8FB3 💪#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/OVgSB6d4cb
— Springboks (@Springboks) August 20, 2024
MINOR SURPRISE
Janse van Rensburg’s return was hinted at in the Sunday media, but is still a minor surprise as he has only played one test for the Springboks (against Argentina in 2021) and is on the basis of his season for Montpellier, but was ignored for the start of the international season.
Erasmus has used Ruan Nortje in Australia as the back-up and has Ruben van Heerden and Jean-Luc du Preez on standby, with regulars Franco Mostert and Lood de Jager both on the injured list.
Jean Kleyn, more a four lock, is also still out injured, while there is no mention of Perpignan lock Marvin Orie, who was part of the World Cup squad, but has surprisingly disappeared from conversation around the Bok group.
The squad features 31 of the 33 players who travelled to Australia for their two victories against the Wallabies in Brisbane and Perth respectively.
Those results were also the first time since 1998 that the Boks registered back-to-back victories on a tour to Australasia.
The @Springboks retain the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate for the first time in ten years 🏆📸
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 19, 2024
A fourth consecutive Test win over the Wallabies - South Africa's longest streak in the professional era 🙌 pic.twitter.com/5SA9iW5ixT
The two players who were left out of the squad were hooker Johan Grobbelaar and scrumhalf Morne van den Berg.
While the squad increased to 37 players to accommodate those returning, Hendrikse’s return accounts for Van den Berg’s exclusion while the Boks have decided to rather use Jan-Hendrik Wessels as the third hooker for the two tests.
With players in close proximity they have the luxury of doing so and a player can be called up very quickly in the event of an injury, so the decision was taken to rather keep Wessels with the squad and let Grobbelaar return to the Vodacom Bulls.
Both Van den Berg and Grobbelaar will stay on standby for the squad in case of injuries.
FAF RULED OUT
Apart from Mostert, De Jager and Kleyn, the other players ruled out of contention for selection due to injury are Evan Roos (No 8), Herschel Jantjies and Faf de Klerk (both scrumhaves).
De Klerk’s thigh injury is more serious than initially thought, but the Boks have not determined how long he will be out.
A weekend news report did indicate though, that it could be until next year.
Steven Kitshoff, Jaden Hendrikse and Canan Moodie have returned from injury and have been named in Rassie's 37-man squad for the two tests against the All Blacks ⚡️
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 20, 2024
Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg has also been called up 👇#TRC2024 pic.twitter.com/XwOxQ6CBxM
Erasmus said the two tests against the old foe will be a “completely different challenge” for the Boks.
“New Zealand are ranked third in the world, and they always test us to the limit,” said Erasmus.
“We also saw last week what they can do under pressure when they defeated Argentina 42-10 after going down in their first test against the Pumas.
DIFFERENT CHALLENGE
“We know these two tests will provide a completely different challenge to what we’ve faced against an Australian team that is still finding their feet with a new coach and a bunch of young players coming through the ranks.”
Commenting on the return of the five World Cup winners, Erasmus added: “It’s good to have Steven, Jaden and Canan back from injury, along with Jasper and Andre. They are all Rugby World Cup winners, who have delivered quality performances consistently against the top teams in the world, so they’ll bring experience and their unique skill sets to this squad.
“As a team we are in a good position in terms of squad depth with 32 of the 33 players on tour playing against the Wallabies – the only exception was RG Snyman who suffered a foot niggle – and we have full faith in the young players to showcase their talent once again against a completely different opponent in New Zealand.
“Adding to that, all these players, with the exception of Nicolaas, were members of our training squad in Pretoria in July and our alignment camps earlier in the year, and they've been regular members of the squad in the last few years, so they understand our systems and should slot in with ease.
“Nicolaas has had a good season with Montpellier and is a capped Springbok, so we are excited to welcome him back into the fold.”
GOOD NEWS ON RG
There was good news that lock RG Snyman was declared fit and should be ready after a foot niggle kept him out of the two tests against Australia.
“RG should be able to train with us this week again and, if that’s the case, he will be in contention for selection for the Test against New Zealand in Johannesburg,” said Erasmus.
“We are also excited to see what some of the young players can do in these two Tests if they get a run after making a strong impression on the coaches so far this season.
“Similarly to the coaches, they are fully aware that this will be a new challenge in intense matches between two of the biggest rivals in world rugby, but the experienced they gained by facing in Australia in two tough test matches overseas – one of which was in extreme weather conditions – will set them in good stead going into this series.”
Commenting on the decision to select Wessels as his third-choice hooker, Erasmus said: “Jan-Hendrik a versatile player who enjoys playing both prop and hooker and we also have Marco van Staden who can slot into the middle of the front row if needed, hence we opted against selecting another hooker.
“That said we have drawn up an extensive list of standby players who could slot in at any time if we suffer injuries.”
Casting an eye on the tests against New Zealand, Erasmus said: “They are one of the best teams in the world and they tend to deliver top-drawer performances against us time and time again, so we have to be charged up physically and mentally for the challenge ahead.
SOLD OUT STADIUMS
“It’s good that we are facing them at home in front of our passionate supporters in sold-out stadiums, although they have a strong support base in Cape Town, so we are under no illusions about what lies ahead.
“That said, it’s vital for us to continue building on the momentum that we gained in our first two games.
“We are currently at the top of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship table, but one result can change that, so we realise the importance of giving everything in these matches to keep alive our hopes of winning the title for the first time since 2019.”
The Springboks arrived back in South Africa in two groups on Monday and Tuesday.
After the All Blacks tests, they will wrap up the Castle Lager Rugby Championship with a short tour to Argentina where they will line up against Los Pumas in Santiago on 21 September before returning to Nelspruit for their last match of the tournament at the Mbombela Stadium on 28 September.
THE SQUAD FOR THE NEW ZEALAND LEG OF THE CASTLE LAGER RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP:
Props: Thomas du Toit (Bath), Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls).
Hookers: Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), RG Snyman (Leinster), Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (Montpellier).
Loose forwards: Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Siya Kolisi (captain, Racing 92), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers).
Scrumhalves: Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Flyhalves: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), 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).