Rassie Erasmus Sticks With Core Springbok Squad For Pumas Rugby Showdowns
Rassie Erasmus Sticks With Core Springbok Squad For Pumas Rugby Showdowns
Rassie Erasmus names 33-man Springbok squad for Rugby Championship clashes with Argentina in Durban and London as Boks push to retain their title.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named a 33-man squad for South Africa’s final two Castle Lager Rugby Championship matches against Argentina, keeping faith with the group that retained the Freedom Cup against New Zealand last weekend.
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The Boks will assemble in Durban on Thursday after a short family break, with matches scheduled at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Sept. 27 and Twickenham in London on Oct. 4. With the standings tight, the closing rounds will decide whether South Africa can hold onto the championship.
Injuries have ruled out lock Lood de Jager, loose forward Jean-Luc du Preez, fullback Aphelele Fassi, and props Gerhard Steenekamp and Frans Malherbe. Salmaan Moerat and Kurt-Lee Arendse also remain sidelined. Erasmus said medical updates could lead to three additional call-ups later this week, with a 30-man group expected to travel to London.
The Springboks sit second in the table on 10 points, level with the All Blacks and one point behind the Wallabies. Argentina are just a point back after beating Australia in Sydney, keeping the competition wide open.
“This group of players have been together for over 13 weeks now, and they’ve shown they are the right players for this big task against the Pumas,” Erasmus said. “We’ve chopped and changed a fair bit this season, playing 46 players in eight matches, but by training together almost daily, we believe this squad gives us the best chance of retaining the title.”
Erasmus praised the blend of experience and youth in the squad and said South Africa’s player pool allowed them to absorb the recent spate of injuries.
“We are blessed with talent in South Africa,” he said. “It’s disappointing to lose players like Lood, Jean-Luc and Aphelele, but we have capable guys to fill their boots. The versatility across the squad is a big asset.”
Looking ahead, Erasmus warned that Argentina will be a formidable opponent after rising to sixth in the world rankings.
“The Pumas are tough and physical, and they’ll come with confidence after their win over Australia,” Erasmus said. “Any team can still win the competition. Every point will count.”
Springbok squad for the Argentina leg of the Rugby Championship
Forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), 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), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Backs: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
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