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Pollard and Am miss out on Springboks World Cup squad as Kolisi makes it
By Josh Raisey
Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am and Lood de Jager, all starters in the 2019 World Cup final, have missed out on Jacques Nienaber’s 33-man squad for South Africa’s title defence next month.
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The 63-cap flyhalf Pollard has not featured for the Springboks since August 2022 due to a string of injuries, and has recently suffered from a calf problem. De Jager has also spent a lot of time on the sidelines over the last year, while Am twisted his knee against Argentina on Saturday in South Africa’s win in Buenos Aires.
Despite not featuring for South Africa in the Rugby Championship, captain Siya Kolisi has been named in the squad as he continues to recover from knee surgery in April.
After missing the majority of the four years since last World Cup as a result of multiple ACL injuries, lock RG Snyman has been included in the squad alongside his second-row partner at Munster Jean Kleyn.
Manie Libbok has been selected as the No10 to step up in Pollard’s place, with utility back Damian Willemse providing cover there as well.
“This was one of the hardest selections we have ever had to make,” said Nienaber.
“Any of the 42-man training squad would do a great job but injuries have played a part in the final selection and time unfortunately ran out for some real champions.
“However, we said from the outset that we wanted to name the best 33 players for the World Cup, and after giving 38 players a run in the last four Tests we are pleased with the make-up of the group, and we know we have proper depth in each position.
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“We’ve picked a squad with a bunch of the players who can also cover alternative positions, which we’ll need in a very tough World Cup.”
South Africa World Cup Squad:
Forwards:
Props: Steven Kitshoff (Ulster – 74 caps, 10 points), Vincent Koch (Cell C Sharks – 45 caps, 0 points), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers – 61 caps, 5 points), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks – 19 caps, 0 points), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92 – 61 caps, 5 points).
Hookers: Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks – 60 caps, 60 points), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears – 61 caps, 75 points).
Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks – 112 caps, 25 points), Jean Kleyn (Munster – 2 caps, 0 points), Marvin Orie (Perpignan – 14 caps, 0 points), RG Snyman (Munster – 26 caps, 5 points).
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Loose Forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz – 69 caps, 30 points), Siya Kolisi (captain – Racing 92 – 75 caps, 45 points), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs – 33 caps, 25 points), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls – 12 caps, 0 points), Duane Vermeulen (SA Rugby – 68 caps, 15 points), Jasper Wiese (Leicester – 22 caps, 5 points).
Utility Forwards: Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers – 7 caps, 0 points), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat – 65 caps, 15 points).
Backs:
Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles – 48 caps, 44 points), Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks – 12 caps, 12 points), Cobus Reinach (Montpelllier – 25 caps, 45 points), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks – 4 caps, 0 points).
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers – 7 caps, 45 points), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers – 31 caps, 36 points).
Centres: Damian de Allende (Panasonic Wild Knights – 72 caps, 50 points), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins – 13 caps, 0 points), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles – 61 caps, 60 points).
Outside Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls – 9 caps, 50 points), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath – 25 caps, 81 points), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls – 86 caps, 65 points), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks – 38 caps, 115 points), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls – 6 caps, 10 points).
This is a shock.
Pack is good, although some concern at hooker if there are injuries.
No problem with the wings, or inside center.
But what is the cover for injury at #13, and what is the plan if both #10 and #15 are out? Is Mampimpi our Plan B at outside center? Or moving DdA out? I guess that Kolbe or Arendse will get a run at #15 in the next 2 games, but if that's the plan then why haven't we seen them getting game minutes.
And what is the secret plan with four #9s? Why not bring in a specialist #10 instead of one of the #9s?
I'm not feeling good about the injury resilience of this team.
Pleased for Esterhuizen who was at risk of not being selected at all. Opportunity for him to prove his value to the Bok cause.
I wonder if we won’t see Esterhuizen at 12 and De Allende at 13. It would certainly be a handful for most teams. That could be an interesting option. De Allende is quite comfortable at 13.
Yes. I think DdA at 13 is part of the plan. It's realistically the only way to cover 13 in case of injury. Possible we will see him at 13 in the warm ups or against Tonga/Rumania.
And why have they picked 4 scrumhalves?
If you include Kolbe then that’s five scrum-halves…Yho 😰
Not sure. Grant Williams played a few games on the wing for the sharks but they also picked 4 wingers.
Only other logical reason is that they wanna manage minutes.
And to think people said England's squad was uninspiring!
I'm sure the boks will be fearless regardless of those key elements, but I believe Am will be sorely missed as I think they lack a bit of an outside center. They are in a very tough pool, having only Kriel available is risky to say the least.
Le Roux can cover but I do not think he will be sufficient against Ireland, France or the blacks. Let's cross fingers that Kriel plays as well as he used to without injuries.
Pollard's goal kicking will be a HUGE miss.
If anything happens to Kriel, De Allende will most likely shift to 13 & Willemse to 12.
Rassie & Jacques would've known about Pollard for a while. They gave Libbok all the game time they could.
Not so sure picking a 23 will be straight forward at all. Lots of tinkering to happen IMO.
Rassie & Management will be well prepared no doubt about it.