Ahead of the Springboks’ first two Tests in the Rugby Championship, Rassie Erasmus has trimmed the squad from 46 players in the wider group to a more deliberate 36-man squad that will come into contention against Australia.
Here we take a look at the nine players who have been released on ‘standby’, and the reasons why.
Lukhanyo Am: The 31-year-old missed the July internationals due to an injury, and needs to get back to fitness and form as the Springboks currently know what they have in Jesse Kriel and Canan Moodie.
Faf de Klerk: It does increasingly seem as if De Klerk has begun to hand over the baton to younger scrumhalves such as Grant Williams and Morne van den Berg, but don’t bet against the double World Cup winner having a role to play later in the Rugby Championship.
Makazole Mapimpi: The third – but not final – World Cup stalwart to miss out on the Springboks’ latest selection. Considering he will soon turn 35, it does stand to reason that the coaches are spending more time getting a closer look at the likes of Edwill van der Merwe and Ethan Hooker.
Salmaan Moerat: The Springboks are blessed with depth at lock, and in a trimmed squad, it’s no huge surprise that space has just run out for Moerat.
Evan Roos: The curious case of Evan Roos continues at national level. Despite a number of unavailable players at No 8, it seems like Cobus Wiese has now even jumped ahead of the Stormers star in the pecking order.
Neethling Fouche: It’s a pity to see the incredibly likeable Fouche fall out of the mix, but with Vincent Koch, Wilco Louw and exciting newcomer Asenathi Ntlabakanye all covering tighthead, his omission doesn’t come as a major shock.
Vincent Tshituka: It is a bit of a surprise that Tshituka has missed out after largely impressing at the start of the season, but it may be that Jean-Luc du Preez is seen to be deserving of a chance to back up first-choice star Pieter-Steph du Toit.
Thomas du Toit: The burly prop is undergoing a compulsory two-week rest period in line with English Premiership protocols.
Jasper Wiese: The World Cup-winning No 8 is serving a four-match suspension.
In total, Erasmus’ squad includes 20 forwards and 17 backline players. The Springboks will face the Wallabies in Johannesburg on Saturday 16 August, and again a week later in Cape Town on 23 August.
HOW THE FULL SPRINGBOK SQUAD SHAPES UP:
Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), 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), Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls).
Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (Hanazono Kintetsu Liners), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Sharks), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers).
What are your thoughts on the squad?
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