Rassie Erasmus has revealed the Springboks’ squad for the upcoming November tour, highlighting the return of three players who have fought hard to earn their way back into the team.
South Africa are scheduled to play Scotland on November 10 before facing England and Wales.
RG Snyman
Enter World Cup winner RG Snyman, who is enjoying life at his new club, Leinster, scoring two tries in his opening three games.
This comes after months on the sideline following an unspecified leg injury that saw him miss the entire Rugby Championship.
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen provided an update before the URC season, telling rugby365.com, “He was doing his rehab run. I am not sure about Round One, but hopefully Round Two or Three [of the URC] he will be back.”
In the build-up to Springbok’s UK November tour, there have been concerns regarding the locks’ lack of match fitness; however, his last three URC games prove otherwise.
This will be welcomed news to Erasmus, who will be without several starting locks, such as Salmaan Moerat and Lood de Jager.
Damien Willemense
Another Springbok who missed the Rugby Championship due to injury, Damien Willemense, has been a menace in the URC, with a Man of the Match performance in his first and last game back from injury.
The versatile fullback has been mastering the fly-half position for the Stormers, having recently guided his side to a dominant 34-19 win over Munster.
He’s back.
Aphelele Fassi
Following two years away from the Springboks, Aphelele Fassi reintroduced himself to the world in The Rugby Championship, scoring two tries in the title-deciding match against Argentina.
Erasmus wasn’t going to leave him off the team sheet this time.
Springboks’ November squad list
Props: Thomas du Toit (Bath), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls).
Hookers: Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), RG Snyman (Leinster).
Loose forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Utility forward: Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls).
Scrumhalves: Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers).
Centres: Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).
Outside backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).
How do you think the Springboks will fare in the UK?
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