It’s been a couple of weeks since the Springboks’ last Test against Portugal, and Rassie Erasmus’ charges are now ready to return to action against Australia for their Rugby Championship opener in Brisbane (06:30am kick-off SA time) on 10 August.
This will be followed by a clash in Perth the week after (11:45am SA time) before returning to South Africa for back-to-back Tests against the All Blacks, which will precede two final Rugby Championship Tests against Argentina.
It’s now been confirmed that the Springboks’ first matchday squad for the Rugby Championship clash in Brisbane this weekend will be announced on Tuesday, just before 11:00 (SA time).
Springbok selection posers
The Springboks have been in Australia since last week, and there will be some interesting selections to make after the 64-21 win over Portugal earlier this month, which saw several ‘newcomers’ make an impression.
“I promised the whole squad that everyone would get a game today and at least 20 minutes on the field,” Rassie Erasmus said. “The way they rewarded us for giving them that chance was really unbelievable. I’m very proud of them.
“We will definitely be slowly integrating some of these players into the squad – some might play against Australia – but then not play against New Zealand – but then come back against Argentina.”
After the back-to-back matches against Australia, the Springboks will play New Zealand on Saturday, 31 August in Johannesburg, and 7 September in Cape Town.
They will then take a short trip to Argentina to face Los Pumas in Santiago on Saturday, 21 September, before wrapping up the tournament in Nelspruit against Argentina on Saturday, 28 September.
LATEST SQUAD:
Forwards: 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 (captain – Racing 92), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls).
Backs: Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP AND END-OF-YEAR FIXTURES:
Saturday, 10 August: Australia vs SA (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
Saturday, 17 August: Australia vs SA (Optus Stadium, Perth)
Saturday, 31 August: SA vs New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday, 7 September: SA v New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
Saturday, 21 September: Argentina v SA (Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades, Santiago)
Saturday, 28 September: SA v Argentina (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)
Sunday, 10 November: Scotland vs SA (Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
Saturday, 16 November: England vs SA (Twickenham, London)
Saturday, 23 November: Wales vs SA (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
