Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber on Monday named a 34-man squad for the Australian leg of the Rugby Championship, with the uncapped Canan Moodie incomes a call-up for his first tour in a settled nationwide squad.
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Nienaber mentioned the touring squad, which encompasses a good combine of youth and expertise, was in keeping with the usual travelling squad for the Rugby World Cup and he believed that they had been the appropriate group of gamers to realize what they got down to do within the two Tests towards Australia in Adelaide (Saturday, 27 August) and Sydney (Saturday, 3 September).
Nienaber mentioned he would make modifications to the squad for the 2 Tests towards Argentina in Buenos Aires and Durban as he appears to present his expanded group of gamers an opportunity to show themselves with an eye fixed on the Rugby World Cup which shall be hosted in France subsequent 12 months.
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“We have been working with a large group of players for the last few months and we believe this will pay off in the long run as we look to expand our depth for the Rugby World Cup and beyond,” mentioned Jacques Nienaber.
“Since we’re occurring tour, nonetheless, we are going to take a bunch of gamers that’s extra in keeping with the dimensions of a Rugby World Cup squad, and our thought course of is that we’ll have two teams of gamers – one who will take part within the Australian leg of the competitors and one other for the Argentina matches.
“This way we can manage the players as well as possible on tour, while at the same time ensuring we continue to develop our depth and give the players opportunities to prove themselves with a little over a year to go before the Rugby World Cup kicks off.”
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Moodie, who was referred to as as much as the squad as utility again cowl following the suspension handed to wing Kurt-Lee Arendse for a harmful sort out, is the one uncapped participant within the group and can journey with the Springboks for the primary time, offering cowl at wing and fullback. His presence additionally fills the void left by Cheslin Kolbe, who’s on the street to restoration from a damaged jaw, which is able to see him solely return for the final Test towards Argentina.
With Bongi Mbonambi (hooker) dominated out for 4 weeks after struggling a knee harm at coaching final week, Deon Fourie will function back-up to Malcolm Marx and Joseph Dweba, whereas Damian Willemse’s versatility within the backline will see present cowl at flyhalf, centre and fullback.
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“Bongi has been ruled out for four weeks, but Deon, who is an experienced hooker and flank, has been practicing his lineout throws with us, so we are confident that he will be able to fill that void for us in these matches,” mentioned Jacques Nienaber.
“We are additionally excited to see how Canan slots in in the course of the subsequent few weeks and to see how he adapts to our constructions and methods, and we imagine he has the talents to fit in for Kurt-Lee and Cheslin.
“This is a settled group of players and includes a wide spread of experience and young players who have made their presence felt, and we believe that they have what it takes to guide us back on track in the Rugby Championship in the matches against Australia.”
The Springboks are presently on a brief break and can depart on Thursday for the tour to Australia and Argentina.
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“We are bitterly disappointed about the defeat against New Zealand last weekend, and we know that we have to be at our best to fight back in the next four matches of the competition to keep us in contention to win the tournament,” mentioned Nienaber.
“We noticed what Australia are succesful at dwelling final 12 months and we all know that we’ll be examined completely.
“The final time we beat the Wallabies in Australia was in 2013, so we’ve an enormous mountain to climb over there, however that mentioned, we’ve checked out our recreation towards New Zealand and we all know what areas we have to enhance on, and we are going to put within the onerous work on the sphere to iron out these elements after we arrive in Australia.
“It is going to be a tough tour, but we know what our players are capable of, and we are determined to make our nation proud.”
Springboks touring squad:
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Steven Kitshoff (Stormers)
Vincent Koch (Wasps)
Frans Malherbe (Stormers)
Ox Nche (Sharks)
Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92)
Hookers
Joseph Dweba (Stormers)
Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears)
Locks
Eben Etzebeth (Sharks)
Lood de Jager (Wild Knights)
Salmaan Moerat (Stormers)
Loose forwards
Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz)
Siya Kolisi (Sharks)
Elrigh Louw (Bulls)
Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs)
Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers)
Duane Vermeulen (Ulster)
Utility forwards
Deon Fourie (Stormers)
Franco Mostert (Honda Heat)
Scrumhalves
Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles)
Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks)
Herschel Jantjies (Stormers)
Cobus Reinach (Montpellier)
Flyhalves
Elton Jantjies (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes)
Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers)
Midfielders
Lukhanyo Am (Sharks)
Damian de Allende (Wild Knights)
Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins)
Outside backs
Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks)
Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz)
Canan Moodie (Bulls)
Warrick Gelant (Racing 92)
Utility Backs
Damian Willemse (Stormers)
Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles)
Frans Steyn (Cheetahs)