Moodie, Hendrikse back as Boks change up for New Zealand

Moodie, Hendrikse back as Boks change up for New Zealand

Canan Moodie (wing) and Jaden Hendrikse (scrumhalf) make their first appearances in the Springbok team since the 2023 Rugby World Cup for the clash in Cape Town on Saturday. Double RWC winners Willie le Roux (fullback) and Lukhanyo Am (utility back) also return to the match-23 to face New Zealand in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship in Cape Town.

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Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus recalled the quartet to the side, which shows seven changes, two of which are positional, to the starting XV which defeated the All Blacks, 31-27, at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Grant Williams (scrumhalf) earns his first start of the season in partnership with Handre Pollard (flyhalf) who is promoted from the bench along with Eben Etzebeth (lock). Roux and Moodie come straight into the XV.

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, who took a hard blow to the cheek in last week’s clash, made it through all the training sessions this week. He has been cleared to play, which will see him start in a powerful loose trio with Jasper Wiese (No 8) and Pieter-Steph du Toit, who reverts from lock to flanker.

Canan Moodie (wing) and Jaden Hendrikse (scrumhalf) make their first appearances in the Springbok team since the 2023 Rugby World Cup for the clash in Cape Town on Saturday.
Lukhanyo Am

SPRINGBOK TEAM TO FACE NEW ZEALAND IN CAPE TOWN

15 – Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls) – 96 caps, 75 pts (15t)

14 – Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 10 caps, 25 pts (5t)

13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 74 caps, 80 points (16t)

12 –Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 83 caps, 55 points (11t)

11 – Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – 36 caps, 96 points (15t, 3c, 5p)

10 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 74 caps, 734 points (7t, 99c, 162p, 5dg)

9 – Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 14 caps, 15 points (3t)

8 – Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 28 caps, 5 points (1t)

7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 82 caps, 45 points (9t)

6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Racing 92) – 87 caps, 55 points (11t)

5 – Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 3 caps, 0 points

4 – Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 125 caps, 30 points (6t)

3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 74 caps, 5 points (1t)

2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 73 caps, 75 points (15t)

1 – Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 34 caps, 0 points

REPLACEMENTS 

16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 70 caps, 95 points (19t)

17 – Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 5 caps, 0 points

18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 55 caps, 0 points

19 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 46 caps, 45 points (9t)

20 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 7 caps, 0 points

21 – Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 15 caps, 12 pts (2t, 1c)

22 – Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 7 caps, 49 points (14c, 4p)

23 – Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 37 caps, 35 pts (7t)

Etzebeth cleared for NZ Test as Boks release four players

Etzebeth cleared for NZ Test as Boks release four players

Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth has been cleared to face New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg on Saturday. This is after completing all the training sessions this week and has been drafted onto the replacements bench for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship encounter. 

Rassie Erasmus has released four players to their Carling Currie Cup teams to get some valuable game time this weekend.

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Etzebeth was initially excluded from the Boks’ match-23 for the first of two Tests against their southern hemisphere arch-rivals due to an injury concern earlier in the week. He replaces Marco van Staden on the bench, which offers the team specialist lock cover for the starting combination of Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ruan Nortje. Should he get game time, the Test will mark Etzebeth’s 125th in the green and gold jersey.

Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth has been cleared to face New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg on Saturday.
Springboks at training

It will see him leapfrog Bryan Habana as the second most capped Springbok of all time and take one step closer to Victor Matfield’s Springbok Test record of 127 caps.

“Our selection policy has always been that if a player does not train on a Monday he will not play on Saturday, but Eben has made it through training pain-free all week, so we had to make the tough call to name him in the squad at the expense of Marco,” said Erasmus.

Meanwhile, Erasmus released four players – Steven Kitshoff (prop), Manie Libbok (flyhalf), Canan Moodie and Makazole Mapimpi (both wings) – to their provincial unions on Wednesday afternoon to get game time in the Carling Currie Cup this weekend.

REVISED SPRINGBOK TEAM TO FACE NEW ZEALAND EBEN ETZEBETH IS CLEARED TO PLAY 

15 – Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 6 caps, 15 points (3t)

14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – 35 caps, 96 points (15t, 3c, 5p)

13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 73 caps, 80 points (16t)

12 –Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 82 caps, 55 points (11t)

11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 19 caps, 85 points (17t)

10 – Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 6 caps, 33 points (12c, 3p)

9 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 34 caps, 65 points (13t)

8 – Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 27 caps, 5 points (1t)

7 – Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers) – 3 caps, 5 points (1t)

6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Racing 92) – 86 caps, 55 points (11t)

5 – Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 2 caps, 0 points

4 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 81 caps, 45 points (9t)

3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 73 caps, 5 points (1t)

2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 72 caps, 70 points (14t)

1 – Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 33 caps, 0 points

Replacements:

16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 69 caps, 95 points (19t)

17 – Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 4 caps, 0 points

18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 54 caps, 0 points

19 – Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 124 caps, 30 points (6t)

20 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 6 caps, 0 points

21 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 45 caps, 40 points (8t)

22 – Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 13 caps, 10 points (2t)

23 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 73 caps, 734 points (7t, 99c, 162p, 5dg)

Rassie Erasmus names Springboks squad to face New Zealand

Rassie Erasmus names Springboks squad to face New Zealand

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has made nine changes for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship Test against New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.

However, there are only three changes to the match-day squad that opened the series with a 33-7 victory in Brisbane against Australia. Two of those were forced by injuries to locks.

Eben Etzebeth (back) and Salmaan Moerat (concussion) miss out on the Brisbane combination. Aphelele Fassi gets the fullback’s jersey in succession to Willie le Roux in the only other change.

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The other locks unavailable for selection are RG Snyman (foot), Franco Mostert (broken leg), Lood de Jager (shoulder) and Jean Kleyn (eye and knee).

“It’s not ideal that we have so many injuries at lock, but we are pleased with the way Ruan stood his man in our last match and we are confident that he’ll combine well with Pieter-Steph at lock,” said Erasmus.

“This will serve as a fantastic opportunity for him to prove what he can do against one of the best teams in the world.

Rassie Erasmus names Springboks squad to face New Zealand
Springboks Squad

SPRINGBOKS TEAM TO FACE NEW ZEALAND IN JOHANNESBURG ON SATURDAY

15 – Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 6 caps, 15 points (3t)
14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – 35 caps, 96 points (15t, 3c, 5p)
13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 73 caps, 80 points (16t)
12 –Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 82 caps, 55 points (11t)
11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 19 caps, 85 points (17t)
10 – Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 6 caps, 33 points (12c, 3p)
9 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 34 caps, 65 pts (13t)
8 – Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 27 caps, 5 pts (1t)
7 – Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers) – 3 caps, 5 points (1t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Racing 92) – 86 caps, 55 points (11t)
5 – Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 2 caps, 0 points
4 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 81 caps, 45 points (9t)
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 73 caps, 5 points (1t)
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 72 caps, 70 points (14t)
1 – Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 33 caps, 0 pts
Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 69 caps, 95 points (19t)
17 – Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 4 caps, 0 points
18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 54 caps, 0 points
19 – Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 22 caps, 10 pts (2t)
20 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 6 caps, 0 points
21 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 45 caps, 40 pts (8t)
22 – Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 13 caps, 10 points (2t)
23 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 73 caps, 734 points (7t, 99c, 162p, 5dg)

Erasmus, Kolisi pleased with win in Australia

Erasmus, Kolisi pleased with win in Australia

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus and captain Siya Kolisi were pleased with their “special” 33-7 win against the Wallabies in their opening Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday. But cautioned against getting too excited.

The pair were quick to point out it was not a perfect performance. They expected a strong backlash from the hosts in Perth.

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“Next week is a new Test and we want to give other players a chance. But that said we know Joe Schmidt (Australian head coach) and how he can turn things around,” said Erasmus.

“He’s only had four games with Australia, and next week is a new game and a new venue, and we are expecting a big challenge.”

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus and captain Siya Kolisi were pleased with their “special” 33-7 win against the Wallabies in their opening Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash
Springboks beat Australia over the weekend

SIYA KOLISI AND RASSIE ERASMUS ARE OLEASDED WITH WIN OVER AUSTRALIA OVER THE WEEKEND

Kolisi added: “Next week is going to be a completely different challenge and we know it will be tougher, so we need to remain focused and keep working hard.”

The Springboks however proved their championship class in Brisbane, scoring five tries to one after being forced to make a late injury change.

Pieter-Steph du Toit started at lock and Ben-Jason Dixon was promoted to flanker (with Salmaan Moerat providing lock cover on the bench) after RG Snyman failed to recover from a foot injury.

With a little more precise finishing, the Springboks could have registered a bigger winning margin after creating several try-scoring chances throughout the game. They will, however, take comfort from the fact that the only try they conceded was when they were reduced to 13 men after receiving three yellow cards in quick succession toward the end of the match.

“This was an important away win for us, and a special one too,” said Kolisi. “In the last few years, we didn’t start well away from home, so to get this win was special and we are really happy about earning the bonus point.

“We haven’t done well in Australia especially, so we were very focused to turn that around going into this game, even though this ground is a fortress for them, because as I said earlier in the week, we knew we couldn’t win the Castle Lager Rugby Championship here, but we could lose it here.”

The Springboks will travel to Perth on Sunday and begin their on-field preparations for the next Test on Monday.

Kolisi to lead strong Springbok Rugby Championship squad

Kolisi to lead strong Springbok Rugby Championship squad

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus named a strong 33-man squad led by double Rugby World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship. The Championship kicks off against the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday, 10 August.

Twenty-two of the 33 players are Rugby World Cup winners. Five 2024 debutants are included in the squad in Jan-Hendrik Wessels (utility forward), Johan Grobbelaar (hooker), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (utility back), Ben-Jason Dixon (utility forward) and Morne van den Berg (scrumhalf).

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The only newcomer to the group is lock Ruan Nortje, who made his Springbok debut against Wales in 2022 and represented the SA ‘A’ side in November of that year. All the other players featured in the team’s opening four Tests of the season against Wales at Twickenham or during the Castle Lager Incoming Series.

Among the players not considered for selection due to injury or rehab were Jean Kleyn, Lood de Jager and Franco Mostert (all locks), Steven Kitshoff (prop), Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse, Herschel Jantjies (scrumhalf), Canan Moodie, (centre), Edwill van der Merwe (wing) and Damian Willemse (utility back). Jasper Wiese (No 8) is suspended, Andre Esterhuizen (centre) awaits a disciplinary hearing after being sent off in the 64-21 win over Portugal on Saturday.

Kolisi to lead strong Springbok Rugby Championship squad
Springbok team singing national anthem

“This is a quality group of players, which includes a mixture of youth and experience, and we believe this is the best group of players we could select for this tough assignment in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship,” said Erasmus.

“We rested some players before the match against Portugal to recharge for this competition and we are excited to see the energy they’ll bring back to the squad. We’ve also included a few younger players who made a strong statement in the Tests we played so far this season.”

SPRINGBOK SQUAD FOR CASTLE LAGER RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

FORWARDS: Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Siya Kolisi (captain – Racing 92), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls).

BACKS: Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).

Kolbe returns to the Springbok training squad

Kolbe returns to the Springbok training squad

Double Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe has rejoined his teammates in Pretoria. He will do his rehabilitation under the supervision of the Bok medical staff with an eye on possibly being available for selection for the opening Test of the Castle Lager Incoming Tour against Ireland.

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The Bok speedster suffered a knee niggle during the Japanese club season. After consultation with the Bok medical team on Sunday, he was released on Monday to seek a specialist opinion. Kolbe returned to camp on Wednesday afternoon to follow a rehabilitation programme.

The match-day squad for the opening Test of the season, against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday 22 June, will be announced on Tuesday.

CHESLIN KOLBE HAS RETURNED TO THE SPRINGBOK SQUAD FOR THE INCOMING SERIES

This Test will be followed by the Castle Lager Incoming Series which features back-to-back Tests against Ireland (ranked second in the world) in Pretoria and Durban (on 6 and 13 July), and a historic first Test against Portugal in Bloemfontein on 20 July.

The Springboks will then turn their attention to the Castle Lager Rugby Championship where they will line up against Australia in Brisbane and Perth (on 10 and 17 August) before facing arch-rivals New Zealand on consecutive weekends in South Africa – in Johannesburg on 31 August and Cape Town on 7 September.

They will then make a short trip to Argentina where they will face the Pumas in Santiago (on 21 September) and then in Nelspruit on 28 September.

This will be followed by the traditional year-end tour featuring Tests against Scotland in Edinburgh (10 November), England in London (16 November) and Wales in Cardiff (23 November).

SA Rugby announces nominees for the 2023 awards

SA Rugby announces nominees for the 2023 awards

Five members of the Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok squad are nominees for the award at the SA Rugby Awards.
The winners will be named early next year, along with the annual Referee of the Year and the Provincial Women’s Player of the Year.

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Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Frans Malherbe and Damian Willemse are nominated for the coveted SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year Award for 2023.

The categories for Coach and Team of the Year are straight shootouts between Jacques Nienaber and the Springboks, John Dobson and the DHL Stormers, and Hawies Fourie and the Toyota Cheetahs.

SA RUGBY AWARDS NOMINEES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Eben Etzebeth
Siya Kolisi
Frans Malherbe
Damian Willemse

Springbok Women’s Player of the Year
Aseza Hele
Libbie Janse van Rensburg
Babalwa Latsha
Rights Mkhari
Nadine Roos

SA Rugby Young Player of the Year
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers)
Jaden Hendrikse (Springboks / Hollywoodbets Sharks)
Canan Moodie (Springboks / Vodacom Bulls)
Evan Roos (Springboks / DHL Stormers)
Ruan Venter (Emirates Lions)

Springbok Sevens Men’s Player of the Year
Ricardo Duarttee
Christie Grobbelaar
Shilton van Wyk

Junior Springbok Player of the Year
Corne Beets
Paul de Villiers
Damian Markus

Team of the Year
Toyota Cheetahs (Currie Cup)
Springboks
DHL Stormers (Vodacom URC)

Coach of the Year
John Dobson (DHL Stormers)
Hawies Fourie (Toyota Cheetahs)
Jacques Nienaber (Springboks)

Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year
Tinus de Beer (Airlink Pumas)
Ruan Pienaar (Toyota Cheetahs)
Devon Williams (Airlink Pumas)

Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year
Keagan Fortune (Valke)
Darian Hock (Boland Kavaliers)
Cameron Hufke (Boland Kavaliers

Springboks name squad for Rugby World Cup opener 

Springboks name squad for Rugby World Cup opener 

The Springbok technical team have named a strong side for the crucial Rugby World Cup opener against Scotland on Sunday. 

Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk will get his 50th Test cap in the team. He is one of 11 players to retain their starting places from the team that recorded a record victory against New Zealand two weeks ago. 

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“We are pleased with the squad depth we have built in the last few months, and we believe this group of players strikes the right balance to achieve the result we need against Scotland,” said Nienaber.

SPRINGBOK SQUAD FOR RUGBY WORLD CUP OPENER: 

15 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 33 caps, 41 points (3t, 4c, 4pg, 2dg)

14 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 10 caps, 55 points (11t)

13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 62 caps, 70 points (14t)

12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 73 caps, 50 points (10t)

11 – Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – 26 caps, 81 points (12t, 3c, 5pg)

10 – Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 9 caps, 65 points (1t, 21c, 6pg)

9 – Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles) – 49 caps, 44 points (5t, 2c, 5pg)

8 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 23 caps, 5 points (1t)

7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 71 caps, 35 points (7t)

6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Racing 92) – 77 caps, 50 points (10t)

5 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 67 caps, 15 points (3t)

4 – Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 113 caps, 25 points (5t)

3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 63 caps, 5 points (1t)

2 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 63 caps, 85 points (17t)

1 – Steven Kitshoff (Ulster) – 76 caps, 10 points (2t)

Springboks name squad for Rugby World Cup opener
Boks Squad for Rugby World Cup opener

Replacements:

16 – Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 62 caps, 65 points (13t)

17 – Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 21 caps, 0 points

18 – Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92) – 62 caps, 5 points (1t)

19 – RG Snyman (Munster) – 28 caps, 5 points (1t)

20 – Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 14 caps, 0 points

21 – Duane Vermeulen (SA Rugby) – 70 caps, 15 points (3t)

22 – Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 5 caps, 0 points

23 – Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls) – 87 caps, 65 points (13t)

RECORD BETWEEN SPRINGBOK AND SCOTLAND 

Played 28, Won 23, Lost 5. Points for: 742, Points against 321. Tries scored: 90, Tries conceded: 32. Highest score 68, Biggest win 58 points, Average score: 26-11. Win %: 82.1%

Scotland are ranked fifth in the world while the Boks are number two and pool rivals, Ireland are number one. Only two teams can qualify for the quarter-finals. 

Kolisi wants to guide the Boks to back-to-back World Cup titles

Kolisi wants to guide the Boks to back-to-back World Cup titles

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi says the Squad embraces the pressure that comes with winning back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles.

The Springbok World Cup squad led by Kolisi was announced on Tuesday in Randburg, Gauteng. The tournament will commence on 8 September – 28 October 2023 in France. South Africa are in Pool B alongside Ireland, Scotland, Tonga and Romania.

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Kolisi has vowed that his team would give their best to achieve the special feat. They are also set to become the first team to lift the Webb Ellis Cup four times if they eventually win it.

“We know what the country wants and expects, and we want the same thing,” he said.

Kolisi is also set to return to full team training on Monday following knee surgery.

“We love the pressure because there was a time that no one wanted to see us play. So, we embrace the pressure, and we want to do something special that has only been done by New Zealand to win back-to-back World Cups, and also to become the first team to win it four times.”

Siya Kolisi wants to guide the Springbok team to back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles
Springbok World Cup squad

BOKS AIMING FOR BACK-TO-BACK WORLD CUP TITLES

The Boks will kick off their Rugby World Cup campaign against Scotland in Marseille on Sunday, 10 September. They will then face Romania in Bordeaux (17 September), Ireland in Paris (23 September) and Tonga in Marseille (1 October) in their other pool matches.

“We know what it will mean to us and the country. As Coach Rassie (Erasmus – SA Rugby Director of Rugby) said in 2019, it’s not pressure, it’s a privilege,” added Kolisi.

He is set to play in his third World Cup. “It’s always special to be part of the group. There are so many guys that could have been selected and didn’t make it, so for those of us who were selected.

“We have the responsibility to ensure we play for them too.”

The Springboks had their first field training session of the week on Wednesday morning following the team’s arrival from Buenos Aires on Monday. They will have two more before the team’s official farewell on Saturday.

Mbonambi to captain the Springbok team against Argentina 

Mbonambi to captain the Springbok team against Argentina 

Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi will captain the side for the first time when they take on Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday. The match is the first of three Rugby World Cup warm-up games. There has been 13 changes to the starting line-up, while the 23 includes talented prop Gerhard Steenekamp, who could make his Springbok debut.

Meanwhile, Mbonambi will also earn his 60th Test cap this weekend. He takes over the captain’s responsibilities in the absence of the regular captain, Siya Kolisi. Kolisi is making encouraging progress following surgery on his knee.

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Stand-in captains Eben Etzebeth and Duane Vermeulen have remained behind in South Africa with a group of players in a conditioning camp.

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named a vastly different matchday squad to the side that defeated Argentina 22-21 at Emirates Airline Park last week. The only two players who retained their places in the starting team were flyhalf Manie Libbok and lock Marvin Orie.

Mbonambi will form a strong front row with props Trevor Nyakane and Thomas du Toit. Jean Kleyn will earn his second start in a lock combination with Orie.

Nienaber also named a physical loose trio with flankers Deon Fourie and Franco Mostert, and No 8 Jasper Wiese, while experienced scrumhalf Cobus Reinach will join forces with Libbok at halfback.

The backline also features grunt and class as Makazole Mapimpi, Canan Moodie (both wings) and Damian Willemse (fullback) form an exciting back three, while Andre Esterhuizen and Lukhanyo Am – who has been named vice-captain for the match – will pair up in the midfield.

 SA Rugby Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus is expected to join the squad in Argentina on Thursday after working with the group of players who remained in South Africa in the last few days.

Bongi Mbonambi to captain the Springbok team against Argentina
Bongi Mbonambi

BONGI MBONANI TO DEPUTIES AS CAPTAIN 

15 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 30 caps, 36 pts (2t, 4c, 4p, 2d)

14 – Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 5 caps, 5 pts (1t)

13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 34 caps, 30 pts (6t)

12 – Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins) – 12 caps, 0 pts

11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 37 caps, 110 pts (22t)

10 – Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 6 caps, 31 pts (1t, 10c, 2p)

9 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 25 caps, 45 pts (9t)

8 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 21 caps, 5 pts (1t)

7 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 64 caps, 15 pts (3t)

6 – Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers) – 6 caps, 0 pts

5 – Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers) – 13 caps, 0 pts

4 – Jean Kleyn (Munster) – 1 cap, 0 points (Ireland 5 caps)

3 – Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks) – 17 caps, 0 pts

2 – Bongi Mbonambi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 59 caps, 60 pts (12t)

1 – Trevor Nyakane (Cell C Sharks) – 59 caps, 5 pts (1t)

REPLACEMENTS

16 – Joseph Dweba (DHL Stormers) – 5 caps, 0 pts

17 – Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – uncapped

18 – Vincent Koch (Cell C Sharks) – 44 caps, 0 pts

19 – Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks) – 13 caps, 10 pts (2t)

20 – Evan Roos (DHL Stormers) – 4 caps, 0 pts

21 – Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers) – 23 caps, 25 pts (5t)

22 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 60 caps, 60 pts (12t)

23 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 9 caps, 50 pts (10t)