The Springboks have widened their training group to 44 players, recalling prop Ntuthuko Mchunu as uncertainty continues over the fitness of injured loosehead Ox Nche ahead of upcoming Tests against Argentina and the All Blacks.
Head coach Rassie Erasmus has moved to strengthen his front-row options in Johannesburg, where South Africa are preparing for a one-off Test in Buenos Aires against Argentina before turning their attention to the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (RGR) series with New Zealand.
Mchunu, 27, returns to the national set-up having won his fourth cap against Scotland in the Nations Championship earlier this month. The prop had been released back to the Stormers after the July internationals but has been drafted in again with Nche still sidelined by a knee problem.
Nche sustained the injury early in South Africa’s opening Nations Championship victory over England at Ellis Park. Erasmus initially feared the issue could rule the Hollywoodbets Sharks prop out for an extended period, but subsequent scans were more positive. However, there is still no certainty that he will be fit for the start of the All Blacks series.
Front-row reshuffle
Mchunu’s inclusion bolsters a prop contingent that already features 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) and Boan Venter (Fidelity Securedrive Lions).
At hooker, Erasmus has opted for Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls) and Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), with Marx continuing his reintegration into the squad set-up following his return to action in Japan.
Lock options consist of Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) and Ruan Nortje (Kubota Spears), providing a blend of World Cup-winning experience and developing talent in the second row.
Kolisi among loose forwards
Captain Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers) heads a loose-forward group that also includes Paul de Villiers and Ben-Jason Dixon (both DHL Stormers), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) and Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
The Springboks have named three utility forwards in Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) and Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), while Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Cobus Wiese (all Vodacom Bulls) add further depth to the pack.
Backline depth across positions
At scrum-half, Herschel Jantjies (Bayonne), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Morne van den Berg (Fidelity Securedrive Lions) and Grant Williams (Kobe Steelers) will compete for places, with Erasmus retaining a mix of European, Japanese and United Rugby Championship-based options.
The fly-half positions are covered by Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks) and Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), giving the coaching staff both left- and right-footed kicking choices as well as varied tactical profiles.
In midfield, Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) and Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) provide continuity and experience at centre.
The outside and utility backline group features 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) and Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).
Two-track build-up
The squad assembled in Johannesburg on Sunday evening and resumed field sessions on Monday as Erasmus and his staff finalise plans for the next phase of the international calendar.
Erasmus is expected to confirm his travelling squad for the Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires – scheduled for Saturday, 8 August – later this week. The selected players and management group will depart for Argentina in two separate travelling parties on Saturday.
Those not heading to South America will remain at the Johannesburg training base, where they will focus specifically on preparations for the clashes with New Zealand. That home-based group will work under a dedicated group of coaches, medical personnel and management staff as South Africa attempt to manage workloads and injuries, with Nche’s recovery timeline still a central concern in their planning.
