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Springboks name 3 uncapped players in experienced squad for Ireland
By Josh Raisey
Rassie Erasmus has named his 39-player squad for the upcoming series against Ireland in July, with the uncapped trio of Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Phepsi Buthelezi making the list.
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Hooker Grobbelaar front row Wessels have been rewarded for a strong United Rugby Championship campaign with the Bulls, who fell short of winning the title at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
They will be joined by their Bulls teammates Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Willie le Roux in the squad.
Sharks flanker Buthelezi is the final uncapped player selected by Erasmus, who has beaten the likes of Bulls flanker Elrigh Louw for a place in the squad.
The squad was originally scheduled to be named on Monday, but was pushed back after the team’s flight to South Africa from London was delayed.
After coming away from Twickenham with a handsome 41-13 win over Wales on Saturday, the world champions will now switch their focus to their two-Test series against Six Nations champions Ireland next month, as well as a fixture against Portugal.
Three of the four players who earned their first caps against Wales have been named in the squad – flanker Ben-Jason Dixon, utility back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and winger Edwill van der Merwe – while fly-half Jordan Hendrikse is on a standby list.
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Elsewhere in the squad, Cheslin Kolbe and Lukhanyo Am have returned from the injuries that prevented them from facing Wales.
World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi has also returned to the squad following his club commitments with Racing 92 in the Top 14, as has Leinster-bound Munster lock RG Snyman.
Leicester Tigers’ departing No8 Jasper Wiese is also named in the squad despite being unavailable to face Ireland as he serves a six-match ban. He would have been ineligible to face Wales anyway, alongside fellow Tiger Handre Pollard, as the match fell outside the Test window.
“Johan and Jan-Hendrik really impressed us at the alignment camps we hosted in the year, and they are talented players with a bright future, so we are keen to see what they can do and the dynamic they add to the team,” Erasmus said of the uncapped pair in his squad.
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“They are skilful players with immense talent and their selection will offer them a great opportunity to make their mark.
“Jan-Hendrik is equally efficient at prop and hooker, which increases our front-row options and hopefully with their talent and drive, they will add great value to the squad.
“We also saw what the uncapped players in the travelling squad for the Wales Test have to offer and we have no doubt that if they receive an opportunity to run out in the green and gold this season, they will give their best and wear the badge with pride.”
South Africa squad
Forwards:
Phepsi Buthelezi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), 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 (Racing 92), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92/Hollywoodbets Sharks), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Blu Revs), RG Snyman (Munster/Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers)
Backs:
Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins/Hollywoodbets Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Wilie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions), Edwill van der Merwe (Emirates Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
Players on standby:
Forwards: Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Joseph Dweba, Neethling Fouche (both DHL Stormers), Celimpilo Gumede, Elrigh Louw, Wilco Louw (all Vodacom Bulls), Ntuthuko Mchunu (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruben van Heerden (DHL Stormers), Andre-Hugo Venter (DHL Stormers)
Backs: Suleiman Hartzenberg (DHL Stormers), Jordan Hendrikse (Emirates Lions), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Emirates Lions), Siya Masuku (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
Why not pick Wilco Louw & Tyrone Green? They should be in the match day 23. Also leaving out Ruan Nortje and Nohamba is a mystery.
Vincent Koch, Trevor Nyakane & Cobus Reinach are all the wrong side of 30 - why persist with them if they will not start any of the matches?
Very happy for Thomas the Tank - he deserves a call up after his season with Bath and hopefully will feature in the starting 15, with Ox coming on from the bench.
Juarno Augustus (Northampton) - at least put his name on the standby list?
Looks like 1/3 of the players in the squad were not in the RWC squad. And 100% of the standby players too.
Rassie looks to be giving himself options to be more or less aggressive in introducing new blood. It looks like he could field a starting 15 (and most of the front 5 on the bench) populated entirely from the RWC squad. More likely we will see two or three non-RWC faces in the starting forwards, one or two in the starting backs, and two of three on the bench.
So Elrigh Louw and Wilco deserve to be in the squad. Both players are prospects for 2027 and need game time. Wilco and Elrigh have been better than Vincent Koch and Phepsi Buthelezi. Elrigh has also been better than Ben Jason Dixon who is a good player himself. Cant understand why these players have been excluded. Including Jan Hendrik Wessels ahead of Dweba and Akker Van Der Merwe as well is a mystery given he is 3rd choice for bulls but the biggest omission is the URC player of the year in SA which is Sanele Nohamba. Not even on the reserve list yet Morne Van Den Berg who often plays behind Nohamba is in the main squad. Really dont get some of the ommissions
really formidable squad for the Ireland series - but I’m not seeing as much long-term planning here as many were predicting.
So much depth, unbelievable!
Can’t be easy selecting a Bok squad. No Elrigh nor Wilco Louw. Heavens! Boks could honestly compete with two teams in a World Cup. Hope they don’t. 🤣
Was hoping to see Tyronne Green included, but this team is stacked with talent. Also gotta feel for Ruan Nortje and David Kriel who both had a great season for the bulls 🐃