South Africa centre Lukhanyo Am has been called up into the Rugby World Cup squad, following the recent injury to winger Makazole Mapimpi. The Sharks man follows in the path of Handre Pollard, as a high-profile late addition to Rassie Erasamus and Jacques Nienaber’s squad.
Lukhanyo Am was omitted from the original 33-man Springboks squad, as he was side-lined by an untimely knee injury. Am was amongst a significant trio of absentees from the initial Rugby World Cup side, including Leicester Tigers halfback Pollard, and former Sale lock Lood de Jager.
However, just as Pollard was called up following hooker Malcolm Marx’s injury, Am makes the trip to France as injury cover for Mapimpi. It is an unfortunate injury for Am’s Sharks teammate, who has been lighting up the pool stages. The winger suffered a fractured eye socket after a clash of heads with Tonga’s Augustine Pulu, in last night’s 49-18 ‘Boks victory.
Timing favours Lukhanyo Am, and the Springboks faithful who have been clambering to see his return. Arguably the best outside centre in world rugby, Am will likely slot in for a re-union with midfield running-buddy Damien de Allende. The revered partnership took the Springboks to Rugby World Cup glory in Japan, as Pollard led from fly-half in the 32-12 win over England.
Springboks fans will be delighted to have their quartet of Rugby World Cup winning halfbacks and centres (with Faf de Klerk at scrum half) all back in the fold. South African supports would only have dreamt for this outcome, however they would have preferred it not have happened at the expense of Mapimpi.
Another starter in the 2019 Final, Mapimpi has emerged as the rival to Cheslin Kolbe’s mantle as the Springbok’s top speedster. Mapimpi featured in two of South Africa’s four pool stage matches at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and scored a hat-trick against Romania.