Rassie Erasmus says he will delay final selection for the Springboks’ trip to Argentina as he juggles the return of 10 injured World Cup winners and established internationals in a 43-man training group named for Johannesburg.
The Springbok head coach has called his extended squad together in the city on Sunday to begin preparations for the Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires on 8 August, as well as the upcoming Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand.
Among the 43 are a host of senior players back from lay-offs of varying lengths, including locks Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager, versatile forward Franco Mostert, captain Siya Kolisi, fly-halves Handre Pollard and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, utility backs Ethan Hooker and Canan Moodie, and Andre Esterhuizen – listed as a flanker and centre – plus scrum-half Morne van den Berg.
Erasmus confirmed that all of them are in contention for Argentina but stressed that their workloads will be tightly managed during next week’s camp before any travel decisions are made.
“Some players are returning from injury and need some valuable game time, so depending on how they progress from their injuries during next week’s training camp, we will decide who we will take to Argentina,” Erasmus said.
Injury management at heart of selection call
One notable case is Ox Nche. The prop is still recovering from a knee injury and was not among those officially highlighted as back from the sidelines, yet he has still been included in the wider squad.
That underlines the careful approach Erasmus and his staff are taking as they look to finalise the travelling party for Buenos Aires, with some players expected to remain in Johannesburg to continue rehabilitation and conditioning work rather than be rushed into match situations.
“While the other guys in the 43-man squad will remain behind in Johannesburg with a group of coaches and management to begin preparing for the Tests against New Zealand,” Erasmus explained.
“Some of the players who will train in Johannesburg will be in the final stages of their recovery from injuries, which will allow them to do so under the supervision of our medical team,” he added.
The planning split means Erasmus will effectively run two parallel programmes: one focused on Argentina, the other building towards four high-profile clashes against the All Blacks.
Four-Test All Blacks programme confirmed
The Springboks will meet New Zealand four times in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (RGR) series.
The first Test is scheduled for Ellis Park in Johannesburg on 22 August, followed by a meeting at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on 29 August. The teams then return to Johannesburg for a third match at FNB Stadium on 5 September, before the series concludes at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, USA, on 12 September.
That demanding schedule, on home soil and abroad, is a central reason for Erasmus’s insistence on keeping a sizeable training group intact in Johannesburg as the Argentina tour party departs.
Full 43-man Springbok training group
Erasmus’s squad features experience across the board, with players based both domestically and in leading overseas competitions.
Props: Thomas du Toit (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers), Carlu Sadie (Bordeaux Begles), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Fidelity Securedrive Lions).
Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears).
Locks: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Kubota Spears).
Loose forwards: Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon (both DHL Stormers), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Utility forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (all Vodacom Bulls).
Scrumhalves: Herschel Jantjies (Bayonne), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Morne van den Berg (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Grant Williams (Kobe Steelers).
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls).
Centres: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).
Outside and utility backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Mitsubishi Dynaboars), Aphelele Fassi (Toshiba), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Cheslin Kolbe (DHL Stormers), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).
Additional forwards: Ntuthuko Mchunu, Evan Roos, Andre-Hugo Venter (all DHL Stormers).
Additional backs: Jaco Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Embrose Papier (Vodacom Bulls).
Standby: Ruben van Heerden (Montpellier).
With several front-line players only just back from injury and a punishing All Blacks series on the horizon, Erasmus’s immediate task will be to strike the right balance between short-term needs in Buenos Aires and longer-term priorities for the Springboks’ rivalry with New Zealand.
