South Africa name nine uncapped players in expansive squad
Coach Rassie Erasmus on Thursday retained 31 of the squad that won the 2023 World Cup in a sign of continuity but has also made clear he intended using tests against the Barbarians, Italy and Georgia to try out new prospects.
The uncapped players include Northampton Saints eighthman Juarno Augustus and hooker Marnus van der Merwe from Scarlets in Wales plus locally-based prop forwards Neethling Fouche and Asenathi Ntlabakanye, flanks Renzo du Plessis and Vincent Tshituka and utility forward Cobus Wiese, whose brother Jasper is a regular in the squad.
The new backs are Sharks centre Ethan Hooker and Ntokozo Makhaza, who has been selected from university rugby without any franchise experience.
The squad assembled on Sunday except for players still involved in the closing stages of the United Rugby Championship or English Premiership.
'We are excited to have the luxury of announcing a squad with so much depth and talent,' Erasmus said in a statement.
'Having an expanded squad will not only afford us the opportunity to have productive training sessions, but it will also bode well for the younger players in the group to learn from the senior players, many of whom are Rugby World Cup champions."
South Africa used 50 players last season in an attempt to balance the load and build towards the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
'With a few more talented youngsters in this group, we hope that they will learn valuable lessons and stake a strong claim for places in what will be a challenging, yet exciting season,' the coach added.
Frans Malherbe, Elrigh Louw, Ben-Jason Dixon, Deon Fourie and Trevor Nyakane were not considered due to injury.
The Springboks will meet the Barbarians in their first encounter on South African soil in Cape Town on June 28 followed by two tests against Italy in Pretoria and Gqeberha on July 5 and 12 respectively and Georgia in Nelspruit on July 19.
From August the Springboks play in the Rugby Championship and in November go on a European tour with tests in Italy, France, Ireland and Wales.
Squad:
Forwards: Juarno Augustus (Northampton Saints), Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Renzo du Plessis (Lions), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Neethling Fouche (Stormers), Cameron Hanekom (Bulls), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi (both Sharks), Wilco Louw (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu (both Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls), Vincent Tshituka (Sharks), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (both Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Backs: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi (both Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker (all Sharks), Quan Horn (Lions), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Ntokozo Makhaza (UCT), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg, Edwilll van der Merwe (both Lions), Damian Willemse (Stormers), Grant Williams (Sharks)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
4 hours ago
- CNA
New Zealand 92-0 at stumps after dismissing Zimbabwe for 149
(Changes Smith description from spinner to medium-fast bowler in paragraph two) Seamer Matt Henry took six wickets as New Zealand bowled out hosts Zimbabwe for 149 on the opening day of the first test at Queens Sports Club on Wednesday before scoring 92-0 in reply to trail by 57 runs. The 33-year-old Henry took three wickets before lunch and three more after the opening session to finish with figures of 6-39 off 15.3 overs as the tourists dominated, with medium-fast bowler Nathan Smith making a significant contribution with 3-20. New Zealand opener Devon Conway scored an unbeaten 51 and Will Young 41 not out at stumps as they began their reply, looking to set the foundation for a significant first innings lead. Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat but were 67-4 at lunch as Henry dismissed their top order cheaply. Zimbabwe, coming off a pair of heavy defeats at home by South Africa in the last six weeks, were unable to put together any significant partnerships with the highest being 54 runs for the sixth wicket between captain Craig Ervine and Tafadzwa Tsiga. Ervine top scored with 39 before Smith trapped him leg before wicket. The spinner also had Tsiga lbw for 30. New Zealand were without captain Tom Latham, who failed to recover from a shoulder injury, and Kane Williamson, who opted out of the two-test series, leaving Mitchell Santner to take the reins for his first test as captain.
CNA
13 hours ago
- CNA
Wallaby White to play last test in Lions series finale, Valetini out
SYDNEY :Rob Valetini will miss Saturday's third test between Australia and the British & Irish Lions but scrumhalf Nic White has been given a chance to sign off his international career as the Wallabies look to avoid a series sweep. Flanker Valetini was outstanding as Australia took an early 23-5 lead in last week's second test and will be sorely missed at Stadium Australia on Saturday as he is "managed" ahead of two matches against the Springboks in South Africa. He will be replaced by Tom Hooper in the back row, one of three changes to the starting line-up forced on coach Joe Schmidt by injury. Tighthead Allan Alaalatoa suffered a shoulder injury last week that could rob the Wallabies of one of their leaders for the rest of the season. Taniela "Tongan Thor" Tupou brings his considerable bulk into the front row in Alaalatoa's place for his first appearance of the series. Dylan Pietsch will start on the left wing for Harry Potter, who was taken off with a hamstring injury after 20 minutes at Melbourne Cricket Ground last week. White's inclusion at scrumhalf for Jake Gordon was not enforced but gives the 35-year-old a chance to win a 73rd cap before standing down from test rugby, a decision he announced earlier on Thursday. "Pulling on the gold jersey was a dream of mine when I was a young boy ... and to say I've done it 72 times, with one last crack on Saturday night, is something I'm incredibly proud of," White said in a Rugby Australia news release. Schmidt has reverted to a 5-3 split in favour of the forwards on the bench, bringing outside back Andrew Kellaway back into the matchday squad for flanker Carlo Tizzano. Tizzano was the recipient of the clear-out from Lions counterpart Jac Morgan in the lead-up to the tourists' late match-winning try in Melbourne, which Schmidt felt was illegal. "The squad was certainly deflated after the gut-wrenching end to last week's test in Melbourne," Schmidt said. "But they have started to gather momentum in the back half of the week and will be ready to go again on Saturday." Team: 15–Tom Wright, 14–Max Jorgensen, 13–Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12–Len Ikitau, 11–Dylan Pietsch, 10–Tom Lynagh, 9–Nic White, 8–Harry Wilson, 7–Fraser McReight, 6–Tom Hooper, 5–Will Skelton, 4–Nick Frost, 3–Taniela Tupou, 2–David Porecki, 1–James Slipper
CNA
5 days ago
- CNA
Nigeria come from two down to be crowned African champions
RABAT :Nigeria staged a remarkable fightback from two goals down to beat hosts Morocco 3-2 and win the Women's Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday. It was a record extending 10th triumph for Nigeria, confirming their status as the most successful women's team in Africa. Esther Okoronkwo and Folashade Ijamilusi led the fight back at Rabat's Stade Olympique before substitute Jennifer Echegini swept home an 88th minute winner. Morocco skipper Ghizlane Chebbak and dribbling winger Sanaa Mssoudy scored in the first half hour to see the home team take a surprise lead as they sought to become only the fourth country to take the continental title after Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and South Africa. A capacity crowd saw Chebbak increase her tournament tally to five goals as she fired home from the edge of the area in the 12th minute after Nigeria had failed to clear properly. Mssoudy's goal came 12 minutes later, after Morocco striker Ibtissam Jraidi had crashed into centre back Marvis Ohale and the ball spilled out for Mssoudy to cut in and finish, but the referee determined there was no foul play and let the second goal stand. Nigeria dominated play thereafter and forced a succession of set pieces but it took some good fortune to begin their comeback. Ijamilusi's cross struck defender Nouhaila Benzina on the hand but Nigeria were only awarded a penalty after a VAR review. Okoronkwo tucked away the spot kick to reduce the score in the 64th minute. Seven minutes later they were level as Okoronkwo powered her way through the Morocco defence before unselfishly squaring for Ijamilusi to tap the ball home. Morocco were then awarded a penalty with 10 minutes remaining in another contentious handball call but this was overturned after the referee was asked to review. A crestfallen home team were then caught out as Echegeni raced onto the ball and tucked it away from close range for a dramatic winner. Nigeria have now won 10 of the 13 editions of the tournament and re-established their continental dominance after having ceded the title to South Africa at the last edition in 2022.
