Sept 10 (Askume) – South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has recalled player John Grobbelaar but kept several World Cup winners at home as the Springboks prepare for a potentially decisive Rugby Championship test in Santiago on March 21.
After Saturday’s 18-12 loss to New Zealand in Cape Town , Erasmus said he would split the squad in two, with one group of players staying south, leaving his side on the verge of their first defeat since 2019 and won the Rugby Championship for the first time.
The Springboks top the table with 18 points from four games, while second-placed Argentina are a distant second with 10 points and a win will help them lift the trophy for the fifth time in their history.
Grobbelaar missed two consecutive matches against New Zealand but with Malcolm Marquez being the only other specialist hooker in the squad, he is likely to get a chance to play in Argentina.
Bongi Mbonnabi (hook), Frans Mahebe (midfielder), Pieter-Stephen du Toit (loose forward), Sascha Feinberg-Mngomejuru (front half field), Damian de Allende (centre), Cheslin Kolbe (winger) and Willy Leroux (defender) will stay at home to take charge.
“We are committed to our policy of giving as many players in our squad as possible the opportunity to play against the top teams in the world,” Erasmus said.
“We believe that playing Argentina in Santiago is a great opportunity and we are looking forward to an important game in front of an enthusiastic crowd which will be a great test for this group of players.
“The players we have decided to rest have really contributed during the season and their bodies need rest, so we thought it was best for them to enjoy the rest and spend time with their families.”
Erasmus has picked just two centre-forwards, Lukanio M and Jesse Kriel, but forward Hande Pollard is likely to take the No. 12 jersey while versatile defender Kanan Moody could serve as the No. 13 jersey.
Manny Libbok, who featured at flyhalf at last year’s Rugby World Cup in France but has rarely been given a chance since the emergence of Feinberg-Mngomezulu, could also get a chance in the squad.
South Africa Team:
Address: Thomas du Toit, Vincent Koch, Aux Naches, Gerhard Steenkamp
Prostitutes: Johanna Grobbelaar, Malcolm Marx
Address: Eben Etzebeth, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Salman Moirat, Ruan Nortje
Loose Forwards: Ben-Jason Dixon, Siya Kolisi, Ellie Lue, Kwagga Smith, Marco van Staden, Jasper Wiese
Utility Forward: Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Scrumhalfs: Jaden Hendricks, Kobus Renk, Grant Williams
Flyhalf: Manny Libke, Hand Pollard
Center: Lucanio M, Jesse Creel
Outside Defenders: Kurt Lee Allende, Afellay Fassi, Makazo Mapippi
Utility Defender: Canaan Moody
