Rassie Erasmus names 37-man Springbok squad for the Australia leg of Rugby Championship

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has announced a formidable 37-man squad for the opening two Tests of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship against Australia, with the group featuring a blend of seasoned campaigners and exciting new talent.

The squad includes 24 Rugby World Cup winners, as well as five players who earned their first Test caps during the successful Castle Lager Incoming Series earlier this year. These five debutants are Ethan Hooker, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe, and Cobus Wiese.

As part of a forward-looking approach, Erasmus also invited three standout members of the Junior Springboks’ World Rugby Under-20 Championship-winning team to join the senior squad for a two-week training camp in Johannesburg starting July 27. Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste, and Haashim Pead will not be eligible for match selection but will be integrated into the Springbok culture and training environment.

“This group includes several experienced players and a few younger guys, who grabbed their chances in the last few Tests, so we are pleased with this squad for the first two matches,” Erasmus said. “We have also informed the players on standby what our plans are and what we expect from them so that all of them are ready to step up if needed.”

The Springboks will face the Wallabies at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday,  August 16, followed by a second Test in Cape Town on August 23.

Among the notable omissions are Bath-based prop Thomas du Toit, who is on a mandated two-week rest period in agreement with the Gallagher Premiership, and No.8 Jasper Wiese, who is currently serving a four-week suspension. Erasmus has also released several players to their franchises to gain valuable game time in the Carling Currie Cup but has kept some of them on standby.

Standby players include Lukhanyo Am, Faf de Klerk, Makazole Mapimpi, Salmaan Moerat, Evan Roos, Neethling Fouche, and Vincent Tshituka.

“We probably have three players who can cover each position, which is important in this competition,” Erasmus explained. “One of our key pillars as a team is to build squad depth, and there is no better way to see what some of the younger players are capable of than to expose them to some of the top teams in the world.”

Far sterner test ahead

Erasmus expects a far sterner test in the Rugby Championship than what the Boks faced in recent weeks.

“Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina are all ranked in the top seven in the world. All three teams have beaten us in the last few years, and they play a different style of rugby from the other opposition we have faced thus far. We know exactly what areas of our game we need to work on going into the Castle Lager Rugby Championship,” he added.

Following the two Tests against Australia, the Boks will turn their focus to the September tour of New Zealand. The squad for that trip will be named ahead of their departure. South Africa will face the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland on September 6 and at Sky Stadium in Wellington on September 13.

The Rugby Championship will wrap up with back-to-back Tests against Argentina in Durban on September 27 and in London on October 4.

Full Springbok squad for the Australia Tests:

Forwards: Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Marnus van der Merwe, Marco van Staden, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, and Cobus Wiese.

Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Edwill van der Merwe, Morne van den Berg, Grant Williams, and Damian Willemse.