Rassie includes three uncapped players in his squad for the Rugby Championship but no place for Kwagga
In addition to a few stalwarts making their return to the Springbok team, Rassie Erasmus also included three uncapped players in his squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship tournament.
Bulls flanker Marco van Staden’s rise in South African rugby continues, after being one of three uncapped players included in the Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
SA Under-20 flyhalf Damian Willemse and Lions loose forward Cyle Brink are the other two newcomers.
Rassie Erasmus, SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby, announced a squad of 35 players on Monday.
A few stalwarts who were not part of the action against England in June also return to the team. Amongst them are Lions quartet of Malcolm Marx (hooker), Warren Whiteley (No 8), Ross Cronje (scrumhalf) and Lionel Mapoe (centre).
Whiteley and Cronjé both return having recovered from long-term injuries, while Marx has shrugged off his hamstring troubles, which forced him to miss the June internationals.
Also returning to the Springbok squad are the experienced Eben Etzebeth (lock), Francois Louw (flanker) and Lwazi Mvovo (outside back).
Louw has represented the Boks in 57 Tests and Erasmus said he will add a lot of experience to the group, but his inclusion also comes amid the surprising omission of Kwagga Smith, one of the stars of the Lions’ Super Rugby campaign.
“Eben and Warren have been out of the Bok mix for a while because of injury so it’s very pleasing to have them back in the squad, while Malcolm has regained his good form with the Lions since recovering from his injury,” said Erasmus, who added that the participation of Brink and Jean-Luc Preez (loose forward) is dependent on medical examinations.
Siya Kolisi retains the captaincy, while Le Roux (fullback, Wasps) and De Klerk (scrumhalf, Sale Sharks), both of whom were outstanding during the 2-1 Castle Lager Incoming Series win over England in June, are amongst the 15 backs in the squad.
The bulk of the players have been training in Stellenbosch for a few weeks, with the Lions contingent set to join them on Wednesday. The men from Johannesburg returned to South Africa on Monday after their Super Rugby final appearance on Saturday against the Crusaders in Christchurch.
The squad will continue with preparations in Cape Town until Friday and following a two-day break will then reassemble in Durban next Sunday to continue with their build-up towards the Castle Lager Rugby Championship opener on 18 August against Argentina at Kings Park. The two sides meet again a week later in Mendoza.
Players who were not considered because of injury include Damian de Allende (Stormers), Warrick Gelant, Lood de Jager, Trevor Nyakane (all Bulls), Coenie Oosthuizen and Sbu Nkosi (both Sharks).
The Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship (in alphabetical order, position, province and test caps) are:
Forwards (20): Cyle Brink (Loose forward, Lions, uncapped), Jean-Luc du Preez (Loose forward, Sharks, 13), Thomas du Toit (Prop, Sharks, 4), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Lock/Loose forward, Stormers, 36), Eben Etzebeth (Lock, Stormers, 67), Steven Kitshoff (Prop, Stormers, 27), Siya Kolisi (captain – Loose forward, Stormers, 31), Francois Louw (Loose forward, Bath, England, 57), Wilco Louw (Prop, Stormers, 7), Frans Malherbe (Prop, Stormers, 19), Malcolm Marx (Hooker, Lions, 14), Bongi Mbonambi (Hooker, Stormers, 16), Franco Mostert (Lock, Lions, 21), Tendai Mtawarira (Prop, Sharks, 101), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Loose forward, Stormers, 4), Marvin Orie (Lock, Lions, 1), RG Snyman (Lock, Bulls, 3), Akker van der Merwe (Hooker, Sharks, 3), Marco van Staden (Loose forward, Bulls, uncapped) and Warren Whiteley (No 8, Lions, 17).
Backs (15): Lukhanyo Am (Centre, Sharks, 3), Ross Cronjé (Scrumhalf, Lions, 10), Faf de Klerk (Scrumhalf, Sale Sharks, England, 14), Aphiwe Dyantyi (Wing, Lions, 3), André Esterhuizen (Centre, Sharks, 2), Elton Janjies (Flyhalf, Lions, 26), Jesse Kriel (Centre, Bulls, 32), Willie le Roux (Fullback, Wasps, England, 44), Makazole Mapimpi (Wing, Sharks, 1), Lionel Mapoe (Centre, Lions, 12), Lwazi Mvovo (Wing, Sharks, 17), Embrose Papier (Scrumhalf, Bulls, 2), Handré Pollard (Flyhalf, Bulls, 29), Ivan van Zyl (Scrumhalf, Bulls, 3) and Damian Willemse (Flyhalf, Stormers, uncapped).
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