Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named a strong 39-man squad that will take on Ireland in two Tests of the Castle Lager Incoming Series, which will be followed by a one-off Test match against Portugal in July.
There are also an additional 14 players on a standby list, with nine players who were not available for selection for the Wales Test and four uncapped players featuring in the squad.
Erasmus also called up Rugby World Cup winners Siya Kolisi, and RG Snyman. They both joined the squad in London following their club commitments.
Marco van Staden, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Willie le Roux are also back. They wrapped up their Vodacom United Rugby Championship season with the Vodacom Bulls in the grand finale against the Glasgow Warriors at the weekend.
Best squad available
“We named the best squad available for the Castle Incoming Series. Squad depth is one of our key pillars as we build toward the 2027 Rugby World Cup and the Test against Portugal. [As such] we thought it would be beneficial to us to name a standby squad. With a few players who will join us at training. It will be… sporadically in the next few weeks,” said Erasmus via SA Rugby media.
“Unfortunately, a handful of players are carrying injuries. And they were ruled out of the selection mix. But our plan to build depth in the last few years and expose players to Test rugby certainly paid off. [Particularly] in the build-up …to the 2023 RWC and against Wales last weekend.”
Cheslin Kolbe and Lukhanyo Am
Erasmus also welcomed Cheslin Kolbe and Lukhanyo Am. The two joined the Springbok squad at different stages during the training camp in Pretoria. They are to do their rehabilitation under the supervision of the Bok medical team after injury.
Handre Pollard and Jasper Wiese have also been named in the squad. They trained with the team but were ineligible for selection. This was due to the Wales Test falling outside of the international window. Although Wiese will only be available for selection once he completes his suspension for a dangerous tackle.
Three players included in the group
Three players who made their Test debuts against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday, which the team won 41-13, were included in the group. They are Edwill van der Merwe, Ben-Jason Dixon, and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Erasmus, however, declared that three players had picked up niggles in the Wales Test. They are Faf de Klerk (quadriceps), Van der Merwe (shoulder), and Makazole Mapimpi (hamstring).
The Boks will clash against Ireland on July 6 and 13 at the Loftus Versfeld and Kings Park Stadium, respectively. This before the team’s historic Test against Portugal on Saturday 20 July.
Springbok Squad for Castle Lager Incoming Series:
Forwards:
Phepsi Buthelezi (Hollywoodbets Sharks). 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 (Racing 92). Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers). Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears). Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks). Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers). Franco Mostert (Honda Heat). Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks). Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92/Hollywoodbets Sharks). Evan Roos (DHL Stormers). Kwagga Smith (Blu Revs). RG Snyman (Munster/Leinster). Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls). Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls). Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls) and Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers).
Backs:
Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks). Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls). Damian de Allende (Wild Knights). Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles). Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins/Hollywoodbets Sharks). Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks). Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers). Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath). Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles). Wilie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls). Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers). Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks). Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers). Cobus Reinach (Montpellier). Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions). Edwill van der Merwe (Emirates Lions) and Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Players on standby:
Forwards: Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks). Joseph Dweba. Neethling Fouche (both DHL Stormers). Celimpilo Gumede. Elrigh Louw, Wilco Louw (all Vodacom Bulls). Ntuthuko Mchunu (Hollywoodbets Sharks). Ruben van Heerden (DHL Stormers). Andre-Hugo Venter (DHL Stormers).
Backs: Suleiman Hartzenberg (DHL Stormers). Jordan Hendrikse (Emirates Lions). Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks). Quan Horn (Emirates Lions). Siya Masuku (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
