Latest news with #Erasmus
The South African
2 hours ago
- Sport
- The South African
Rassie Erasmus explains Springbok squad cuts
On Wednesday, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus revealed the squad for the first two Tests of the Rugby Championship, which includes 20 forwards and 17 backline players. The Springboks are set face the Wallabies in Johannesburg on Saturday 16 August, and again a week later in Cape Town on 23 August as they begin their Rugby Championship title defence. Erasmus will announce his squad for the two-match tour to New Zealand in September before making the journey Down Under, where they will face their arch-rivals at Eden Park in Auckland on 6 September, and the Sky Stadium in Wellington on 13 September respectively. The team will wrap up their campaign with Test matches against Argentina in Durban on Saturday 27 September, and in London on 4 October. Nine players have been released, and placed on 'standby', and they are: Lukhanyo Am (centre) – who missed the July Tests due to a knee niggle – Faf de Klerk (scrumhalf), Makazole Mapimpi (wing), Salmaan Moerat (lock), Evan Roos (No 8), Neethling Fouche (prop), and Vincent Tshituka (flanker). Erasmus elaborated on the composition of the squad, saying: 'We probably have three players who can cover each position, which is important in this competition, so it was a thorough process to narrow down the group to 36 players. '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 'It's always challenging to reduce the squad, especially given how the expanded group of players put up their hands during the Incoming Series, but we always said we would select a smaller, more manageable squad during the Castle Lager Rugby Championship,' added Erasmus. '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.' Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls). Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (Hanazono Kintetsu Liners), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Sharks), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers). 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.
Daily Maverick
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Faf and Mapimpi among the casualties of Rassie's Bok squad cull for Wallaby Tests
Several big names have been omitted from the 37-man Springbok squad for the Rugby Championship while three victorious world-champion Junior Boks have been invited to train with the senior team. Coach Rassie Erasmus culled his large group of players used in the recent Tests against Italy and Georgia to streamline the squad for the Rugby Championship. He wants a smaller party to allow for 'maximum outputs' at training. Despite cutting many quality players, Erasmus was able to name a strong squad for the first two Rugby Championship clashes against Australia at Ellis Park on 16 August and at Cape Town Stadium a week later. Five of the seven players who made their Test debuts against either Italy or Georgia – Ethan Hooker (utility back), Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Boan Venter (both props), Marnus van der Merwe (hooker) and Cobus Wiese (utility forward) – have been retained. Only flank Vincent Tshituka and tighthead Neethling Fouche, of the newly capped players in 2025, have missed out – for now. No 8 Jasper Wiese's name is obviously not there because he still has a three-match suspension to serve after receiving a four-match ban for a headbutt during the Boks' 42-24 first Test win over Italy. Bath prop Thomas du Toit, who was used as loosehead in the second Test against Italy and against Georgia, is also absent from the group. Officially, the reason for his omission is given as an 'agreed' two-week rest period with his English club Bath. Du Toit struggled at loosehead in those two Tests, having spent the entire English domestic season at tighthead for Bath. Du Toit remains on standby, but 'has been granted a compulsory two-week rest as agreed with the Gallagher Premiership, although he is eligible to be called up at any stage should the need arise'. His rest period will be over before the first Wallaby Test though. Expect to see Du Toit in the squad at some stage against Australia. Goodbye? Others who featured in June and July and who have been released include scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and wing Makazole Mapimpi. De Klerk gave a wonderful cameo from the bench against Georgia, but it appears Erasmus is looking to the future, with Morne van den Berg retained and Junior Bok star Haashim Pead invited to train with the squad. Pead was superb during the recent World Rugby U20 Championships in Italy where he scored six tries in five matches and was the axis on which the team's dynamic attack turned. De Klerk, though, reminded people what made him such a good player for five years with some fine work against Georgia during the Boks' 55-10 win in Nelspruit. Yet it seems that Erasmus is looking to the future at halfback. Grant Williams's return to Test rugby in July was a triumph. He was magnificent against Italy and Georgia, where he used his searing pace to open up defences on top of his dynamic and lightning-quick service. When Williams plays the Boks' attack looks sharper because his zip gives everyone outside him an extra metre or so to work in. Van den Berg is emerging as Erasmus's second-in-command for the No 9 jersey. In some ways he's similar to Williams, with good pace and quick service, although he can be prone to the odd error. Cobus Reinach provides the experienced cover at scrumhalf. As for Mapimpi, it does feel like this is the end of the road for a player who embodies the best of South Africa through his rise from such humble beginnings to the pinnacle of the sport. Mapimpi turns 35 on 26 July and with the arrival of Edwill van der Merwe, Hooker and Canan Moodie who also play wing, his Test future looks to be nearing the end. With the next World Cup 26 months away, Erasmus must look to the future in all positions and, unfortunately, it's hard to see Mapimpi in line for selection in 2027. Erasmus, though, does have some sentimentality, and he might like to get Mapimpi to 50 Test caps over the next 12 months. The great wing currently sits on 47 appearances with 33 tries. The other three players who have been cut from the squad but remain on standby (the Boks never use the word 'dropped') are Lukhanyo Am (centre), who missed the July Tests due to a knee niggle, Salmaan Moerat (lock) and Evan Roos (No 8). 'It's always challenging to reduce the squad, especially given how the expanded group of players put up their hands during the incoming series (against Italy and Georgia), but we always said we would select a smaller, more manageable squad during the Rugby Championship,' said Erasmus. '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. '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.' Depth Erasmus elaborated on the composition of the squad, saying: 'We probably have three players who can cover each position, which is important in this competition, so it was a thorough process to narrow down the group to 36 players. '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.' Of the Junior Boks invited to train with the squad for the next two weeks, which includes wing Cheswill Jooste and flank Bathobele Hlekani, Erasmus said: 'We are tremendously proud of the Junior Springboks for winning the World Rugby U20 Championship and we were thrilled to see the talent coming through the junior ranks. 'We opted to invite three of them to join us to expose them to our structures and the standards required at top international level. 'We believe this camp will benefit them significantly, and we are excited to see how they slot in and train with us. 'Unfortunately, we had to limit the size of the squad to ensure maximum outputs and more individual attention at our training sessions, so although more players could have been invited, we could only select three.' DM Springbok squad: Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Bulls). Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Handre Pollard (Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Sharks), Morné van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers).
The Citizen
5 hours ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Rassie Erasmus picks 37 Springboks for Australia Tests, invites 3 Junior Boks
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has named 37 players to take on Australia in the national team's first two Rugby Championship matches. According to The Citizen, these take place at Ellis Park on August 16 and Cape Town Stadium on August 23. Erasmus said before the 55–10 win over Georgia last weekend that they would select a more tried-and-tested squad to face Australia. This follows experimentation in the first four games of the season, during which seven players also made their debuts. The Bok coach has also invited three young guns – Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste and Haashim Pead – who were members of the triumphant Junior Springbok World Rugby U20 Championship squad, to train with the group during a two-week conditioning camp in Johannesburg starting on Sunday. Rassie on selections The five players who earned their first Springbok Test caps in July are Ethan Hooker (utility back), Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Boan Venter (both props), Marnus van der Merwe (hooker) and Cobus Wiese (utility forward). Meanwhile, Bath prop Thomas du Toit has been granted a compulsory two-week rest as agreed with the Premiership, although he is eligible to be called up at any stage should the need arise. No 8 Jasper Wiese is currently serving a four-week suspension, ruling him out of this squad. Several players have been released to their franchises to build up game time in the Currie Cup, although a few of them have been placed on standby for the Wallaby Tests. The standby players are Lukhanyo Am (centre), who missed the July Tests due to a knee niggle, Faf de Klerk (scrumhalf), Makazole Mapimpi (wing), Salmaan Moerat (lock), Evan Roos (No 8), Neethling Fouche (prop) and Vincent Tshituka (flanker). 'It's always challenging to reduce the squad, especially given how the expanded group of players put up their hands during the Incoming Series, but we always said we would select a smaller, more manageable squad,' said Erasmus. '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. We probably have three players who can cover each position, which is important in this competition.' Springboks build squad depth '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.' On the young guns invited to train with the squad, Erasmus said: 'We are tremendously proud of the Junior Springboks… so we opted to invite three of them to join us to expose them to our structures and the standards required at top international level. We believe this camp will benefit them significantly.' Springbok squad to face Australia Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Bulls). Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Handre Pollard (Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Sharks), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers).
West Australian
5 hours ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Western Bulldogs watching Fremantle Dockers midfielder Neil Erasmus ahead of trade period
The Western Bulldogs are the latest club keeping a close eye on out-of-favour Fremantle midfielder Neil Erasmus. According to a report, the Bulldogs have interest in the fourth-year midfielder, who has played 10 times for the Dockers this season. Channel 7's Ryan Daniels revealed last month West Coast are watching the Subiaco product's progress. He has played 33 matches for the Dockers since debuting in 2022 but has slipped down in the pecking order behind draft mate Matt Johnson and other midfielders, including Jaeger O'Meara and Nathan O'Driscoll in recent weeks. The 21-year-old is out of contract at the end of this season. According to the Dockers are working to have the midfielder extend his time at the club, but it is understood Erasmus will weigh up opportunity as a major factor in his decision. The Bulldogs this week announced star Marcus Bontempelli has inked a four-year extension, but ageing midfielders Tom Liberatore and Adam Treloar could be close to the end of their careers. Erasmus is a chance to return to the side for Saturday afternoon's western derby clash with the Eagles. Fremantle will weigh him up as a replacement for Johnson, who injured his ankle in Sunday's dramatic win over Collingwood. Fremantle football boss Joe Brierty confirmed he was in the mix after collecting 21 disposals in Peel Thunder's loss to East Fremantle on Saturday. 'There's obviously a number of ways we can structure up the midfield team and allocate some flexibility,' he told SEN. 'Whether that's a Neil Erasmus coming in or Jeremy Sharp, Isaiah Dudley had a strong game. 'He can look to go forward and that can free up some of our forwards to spend some time around the ball. 'There's just a number of ways we can look to have some flexibility in our team.' Erasmus has not played in either of the Dockers' two wins over Hawthorn at Optus Stadium or Collingwood at the MCG. The Subiaco product made the intriguing move to sell a range of his match-worn Fremantle and Thunder merchandise, including the jumper he wore during his Simpson Medal-winning performance in last year's WAFL grand final.
The Herald
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald
Erasmus names experience and young blood in Bok squad for Australia Tests
'Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina are all ranked in the top seven in the world and if one considers we won the Rugby Championship for the first time since 2019 last year, it is clear this will be a completely different kettle of fish. 'All three teams have beaten us in the last few years and they play a different style of rugby to the other opposition we have faced thus far, but we are pleased with the foundation we laid in the last few weeks and we know exactly what areas of our game we need to work on.' Erasmus will announce his squad for the two-match tour to New Zealand in September before making the journey Down Under, where they will face their arch-rivals at Eden Park in Auckland on September 6, and the Sky Stadium in Wellington on September 13. The Boks wrap up their campaign with Tests against Argentina in Durban on September 27 and in London on October 4. Springbok squad Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Bulls) Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), André Esterhuizen (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Handré Pollard (Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Sharks), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers) SA Rugby media
