logo
Five players unavailable to Springboks: When will they be back?

Five players unavailable to Springboks: When will they be back?

In selecting his first Springbok training squad of the year, Rassie Erasmus cast his net far and wide, naming 54 players, nine of whom are uncapped.
Five players, meanwhile, were not considered for selection due to injuries: Frans Malherbe, Elrigh Louw, Ben-Jason Dixon, Deon Fourie and Trevor Nyakane.
Frans Malherbe
Issue: Niggling back injury
Expected return: There is a chance he could be rested for the July internationals, but the big prop should certainly be readily available for the Rugby Championship.
Elrigh Louw
Issue: Serious leg injury
Expected return: Early next year.
Ben-Jason Dixon
Issue: Wrist injury
Expected return: He will miss the July internationals, but could be back in contention during the Rugby Championship.
Deon Fourie
Issue: Serious ankle injury.
Expected return: He should be back in training before the Rugby Championship.
Trevor Nyakane
Issue: Ruptured Achilles tendon
Expected return: Towards the end of 2025
ULL SPRINGBOK SQUAD:
Forwards: Cameron Hanekom, Wilco Louw, Ruan Nortje, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (all Bulls), Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ox Nche, Vincent Tshituka (Sharks), Neethling Fouche, Salmaan Moerat (Stormers), Renzo du Plessis, Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Juarno Augustus (Northampton Saints), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Backs: Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker, Makazole Mapimpi, Grant Williams (Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse, Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie (Bulls), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Manie Libbok, Damian Willemse (Stormers), Quan Horn, Morne van den Berg, Edwill van der Merwe (Lions), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk, Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Ntokozo Makhaza (UCT).
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Meanwhile, here is an important reminder on ticket sales for the Springbok men's game against Argentina in the Rugby Championship at Twickenham in October.
Ticket sales
Tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster.co.uk and England Rugby, starting from just £55* for adults and £28* for Under-16s.
(*booking fees apply)

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Jake White: Goosen's return crucial for URC playoffs as Bulls eye victory over Sharks
Jake White: Goosen's return crucial for URC playoffs as Bulls eye victory over Sharks

IOL News

timean hour ago

  • IOL News

Jake White: Goosen's return crucial for URC playoffs as Bulls eye victory over Sharks

Bulls flyhalf Johan Goosen is back from injury and will start as flyhalf in the URC semi-final against the Sharks in Pretoria on Saturday Image: BackpagePix Johan Goosen trained like he hasn't been away and that is one of the reasons why Jake White included him in the Bulls' starting team for the United Rugby Championship (URC) semi-final against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld. The Pretoria side will look to snap a two-match losing streak this season on Saturday evening (6.15 pm kick-off) as they aim for a consecutive finals berth in the tournament. Goosen is the only change to the starting lineup, with Keagan Johannes dropping to the bench for the do-or-die duel. White says considering how well Goosen has played next to scrumhalf Embrose Papier and inside centre Harold Vorster, he has no doubt the flyhalf will slot in with ease. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'One thing about him (Johan) is that he is always in and out and in. So if anyone says he is not game-ready, that is usually how he has played in his career,' White explained the inclusion of the veteran. 'I am sure some of you guys watched a bit of training and those who have will see that it's like he hasn't been away. That is what I always say: at the end of these playoff games, you need your best players fit, available, and ready. Whatever happens during the season is just part of that building blocks. 'To have him back, we have 14 of the 15 players that played last week, so that is continuity. He is a Springbok and our number one 10. We have Keagan who's played really well for us on the bench. It is a good position to be in.' YOUR team to face the Hollywoodbets Sharks tomorrow at Loftus in our VURC Semi-Final 🔥🔥🔥 GRAB YOUR TICKETS NOW 🏆 🎟️TICKETS ➡️ 🐂Vodacom Bulls vs Hollywoodbets Sharks 🗓️7 June | ⏰ 18:15 | LOFTUS @Vodacom #URC | @URCOfficial_RSA #ForeverBlue — Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) June 6, 2025 White put a question mark behind the omission of Eben Etzebeth from the Sharks' announced squad. He added that they will worry about the team when they get to Loftus on Saturday. Etzebeth was not included in the Sharks' match-day squad with Siya Kolisi taking over as captain in his absence. According to White, they are preparing as if the Durbanites will bring their best team to Pretoria. 'This is probably one of the best Sharks teams on paper. It reminds of Pieter Muller, Henry Honiball, Jeremy Thompson, Kabous van der Westhuizen, and André Joubert. They were all Springboks. 'There are not many players in that team who are not Springboks. In fact, 15 of the 54 players (in the Bok squad for the mid-year Tests) are from the Sharks. So, it is not a bad team to have. 'They have played well in big games, whether it is the Challenge Cup final or whenever they had a big game, they played well. In Springbok games too, so it won't be easy. We don't think for one moment that it will be. They've beaten us twice this year and there is a reason for that.' 🔥 This iconic derby have given us some absolute stunners 🔥 This Saturday, they're back to battle for a place in the Grand Final 🏆 Grab your spot and get ready for more magic 🎟️👉 #URC | #BULvSHA — Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) June 6, 2025 White says they expect it to be as tough as it can be, and they will have to play as well as they can to get the desired outcome. He added that he told his players it would be like (Bok) trials for them on Saturday, but he doesn't want them to play like it is trials. White wants a team effort from his side. 'They know this is an opportunity in front of the selectors and the public for them to stake a claim. Our job is to tell them it is not about the individual. I told them in the changeroom they have been picked (for the Boks) for what they've been doing for the last 18 weeks.

Plumtree confident Sharks can beat Bulls in URC semi-final without Eben Etzebeth
Plumtree confident Sharks can beat Bulls in URC semi-final without Eben Etzebeth

IOL News

timean hour ago

  • IOL News

Plumtree confident Sharks can beat Bulls in URC semi-final without Eben Etzebeth

SHARKS lock Corne Rahl has some big shoes to fill with Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth out injured for the URC semi-final at Loftus. | BackpagePix Sharks coach John Plumtree reckons his blood pressure has only recently returned to normal after the drama of a penalty shoot-out with Munster last week, and the early week injury to Eben Etzebeth won't have helped his stress levels. That said, Plumtree was calm and philosophical when he spoke to the media about his team's chances of upsetting the Bulls in Saturday's United Rugby Championship semi-final at Loftus Versfeld. Etzebeth has been replaced by youngster Corne Rahl while Emile van Heerden comes in for another injured Springbok in Jason Jenkins. Apart from that double blow in the second row, Plumtree has picked the same starting 15 that won the quarter-final. Plumtree said the loss of his first-choice locks was a setback but stressed that rugby is a team sport. 'How much of a loss is Eben? He is probably the best lock in the world, so it's a big loss, but the thing is it's a team game; one person doesn't make this team and we've won games without him this year,' Plumtree said. 'He got a head knock at training,' explained Plumtree. 'We decided that it's best not to risk him this week, so we made a pretty early call. 'He's feeling a lot better by the way, he's been communicating with me and the team, and I'm not overly concerned about it. I'm pretty sure that if we go through, he'll be available next week.' Plumtree admitted that the injury to the in-form Jenkins had also been keenly felt. 'Jason is a big loss for us, too. He played a pivotal role for us, with Eben being out for so much; he's played at four, and he's played at five,' Plumtree added. 'It's really disappointing not to see him in the Springbok squad at the moment as well. I think he deserves to be there.' Etzebeth's replacement, Rahl, is hardly a lightweight. The blond-haired giant is 2.03m and weighs 122kg. Importantly, the 22-year-old has been under Etzebeth's wing for two years and would have learned plenty from the best in the business. The other incoming lock, Van Heerden, is no slouch and has the pedigree of being the son of former Springbok lock Fritz van Heerden. He, in any case, played most of last week's game after Jenkins went off injured. 'Corne is a different player to Emile, in so many ways. Corne's more abrasive, and Emile's the ball winner, and a smart player, and is developing good leadership as well,' Plumtree explained. 'We've got full backing of the boys, and the boys are really pleased they've got this opportunity.' As Plumtree says, his team have won important games this season without the likes of Etzebeth. In fact, the Sharks have yet to field a full-strength side against the Bulls this season, and they are yet to lose to the Pretoria team. They have got over the line in their last three outings against the Bulls, and Etzebeth did not play in those games. Plumtree said that the harrowing, 100-minute quarter-final meant the players had to take it easy this week, and the preparation has been more mental. 'With big games like this, it's often your easiest week as a coach. The players are all excited about the opportunity. 'We had to lighten the load a lot in training based on what happened last weekend, but they're feeling good.' Plumtree said his forwards are excited about going up against the much-vaunted Bulls pack. 'It's not just about who gets front-foot ball but also the psychological battle, and that's what it's all about, these big contests. The Bulls are not just a scrummaging team, they're a good set-piece team, particularly at Loftus,' Plumtree said. 'These are big derby games, aren't they? The Sharks-Bulls game at Loftus, everyone in Durban will be watching this game of rugby because it's based on the contests there have been over the years, and there have been some great contests.' Sharks team 15 Aphelele Fassi 14 Ethan Hooker 13 Lukhanyo Am 12 Andre Esterhuizen 11 Makazole Mapimpi 10 Jordan Hendrikse 9 Jaden Hendrikse 8 Siya Kolisi (captain) 7 Vincent Tshituka 6 James Venter 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Corne Rahl 3 Vincent Koch 2 Bongi Mbonambi 1 Ox Nche. Bench: 16 Fez Mbatha 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu 18 Hanro Jacobs 19 Deon Slabbert 20 Phepsi Buthelezi 21 Bradley Davids 22 Jurenzo Julius 23 Yaw Penxe.

Gerda Steyn favoured to win the Comrades Marathon, but the men's race remains unpredictable
Gerda Steyn favoured to win the Comrades Marathon, but the men's race remains unpredictable

IOL News

time2 hours ago

  • IOL News

Gerda Steyn favoured to win the Comrades Marathon, but the men's race remains unpredictable

Gerda Steyn GERDA Steyn is favoured to winn the Women's race in the 2025 Comrades Marathon. | Sibonelo Ngcobo/Independent Newspapers Equally motivated will be his club mate yet adversary in the form of Piet Wiersma. The Dutchman has to be considered a possible winner given how close he ran Dijana in 2023. The South African in me of course wants one of our own to keep the title home. And there are a few athletes who can do just that, the standout being defending Down Run champion Morena Tete Dijana. But that has never stopped us from trying to play Nostradamus, has it? And I am not going to start now and shirk out of having a go. The men's race on the other hand is not so clear-cut. As it is, predicting a winner is tantamount to attempting to tell dark blue from black in the dark – impossible. Sure, there are some competitive runners who are likely to run her close. But you are not going to find punters putting high odds against her not winning. DURBAN - GERDA Steyn's status as a firm favourite to win the women's race in Sunday's Comrades Marathon is a given. Wiersma showed with that compelling run for a second spot that it is possible for a foreign rookie to win the race. There is one such rookie brought here by Maxed Elite in the form of Frenchman Guillaume Ruel who could pull the rug from underneath the aforementioned duo of Nedbank, a club he previously ran for. The 27-year-old who stands at a strapping 1.87m was in South Africa three years ago for the Nedbank Runified 50km where he ran the European record at 2:47:23. He said on Thursday during the press conference that he's here on a reconnaissance trip and will be returning to be competitive the following year, explaining that he's not fully fit having had an Achilles operation earlier in the year. That could well be. But athletes are known to play down their chances and with his kind of speed – he boasts a 2:14:48 standard marathon PB - and the fact he holds the French 100km record at 6:13:41 9:51 suggests he is going to be pretty competitive. The Comrades Marathon is renowned for being unkind to highly-rated foreigners though and few have had their noses bloodied by the world's most famous ultra. In recent years the locals have dominated the race, with the Nedbank Running Club having won it in the last four years. Dijana's teammate and captain Edward Mothibi was a winner in 2019 and his second and third place finishes in the previous two Down Runs suggests he should not be overlooked. Like Dijana, he had a poor run last year finishing 16th and while he says he is simply going for a top 10, the reality is that the man they call Slender has it in him to push for glory. Their former teammate Joseph Manyedi who won the veteran's category with his fourth-place finish has found a new lease on life at Maxed Elite. He has all intentions to get a podium finish for his new employers who will have the battle-hardened Teboho Sello once again pushing for glory. He has all intentions to get a podium finish for his new employers who will have the battle-hardened Teboho Sello once again pushing for glory. The Comrades stalwart that is Bongmusa Mthembu remains a force of the race even though it appears that his glory days are long gone, but cannot be completely written off. And then there's three-time gold medalist Gordon Lesetedi who is coached by the champion-producing John Hamlett who has said he is going for victory On the face of it, this could easily be a two-horse race between Dijana and Wiersma. But such is the unpredictability of the Comrades Marathon that the winner could well come from left field. We are in for an intriguing race this weekend.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store