South Africa Head Coach Jacques Nienaber has named his 33-man squad, as the Springboks look to retain their Rugby World Cup title. The Springboks side is an exciting mix of youth and World Cup experience, with the squad unveiled in Johannesburg today.
Nine of the ‘Boks players will be appearing at their third Rugby World Cup, with 21 in total returning from the victorious 2019 campaign. South Africa certainly have a squad of players who know what it takes to win the Rugby World Cup. Nienaber’s side will embark on becoming the record four-time winners, and the second ever side to lift the Web Ellis trophy back-to-back (after the All Blacks in 2011 and 2015.)
There are also nine players on an injury ‘standby’ list, including fly half talisman Handre Pollard (calf), powerhouse centre Lukhanyo Am (knee) and hard-hitting lock Lood de Jager (chest problem). The high profile trio have missed out on the official squad, but aim to be available options to call up in the event of an injury.
“This was one of the hardest selections we have ever had to make,” Nienaber said to the Springboks website. “Any of the 42-man training squad would do a great job but injuries have played a part in the final selection and time unfortunately ran out for some real champions.
“However, we said from the outset that we wanted to name the best 33 players for the World Cup, and after giving 38 players a run in the last four Tests we are pleased with the make-up of the group and we know we have proper depth in each position.
“We’ve picked a squad with a bunch of the players who can also cover alternative positions, which we’ll need in a very tough World Cup.
“We were in a great position this year to have so many players knocking on the door for selection but unfortunately, we could only select 33. Injuries have had a hand in the final selection, but they are part of the game, and we are excited about the quality of the players who can step in and perform at World Cup level, as many of the players who featured against Argentina showed last weekend.”
Springboks Rugby World Cup squad:
Forwards:
Props: Steven Kitshoff (Ulster – 74 caps), Vincent Koch (Cell C Sharks – 45 caps), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers – 61 caps), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks – 19 caps), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92 – 61 caps).
Hookers: Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks – 60 caps), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears – 61 caps).
Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks – 112 caps), Jean Kleyn (Munster – 2 caps), Marvin Orie (Perpignan – 14 caps), RG Snyman (Munster – 26 caps).
Loose Forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz – 69 caps), Siya Kolisi (captain – Racing 92 – 75 caps), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs – 33 caps), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls – 12 caps), Duane Vermeulen (SA Rugby – 68 caps), Jasper Wiese (Leicester – 22 caps).
Utility Forwards: Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers – 7 caps), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat – 65 caps).
Backs:
Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles – 48 caps), Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks – 12 caps), Cobus Reinach (Montpelllier – 25 caps), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks – 4 caps).
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers – 7 caps), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers – 31 caps).
Centres: Damian de Allende (Panasonic Wild Knights – 72 caps), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins – 13 caps), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles – 61 caps).
Outside Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls – 9 caps), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath – 25 caps), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls – 86 caps), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks – 38 caps), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls – 6 caps).
Returning Springboks from the side that beat England in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final
Props: Frans Malherbe, Steven Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane, Vincent Koch
Hookers: Bongi Mbonambi, Malcolm Marx
Locks: RG Snyman, Eben Etzebeth
Loose Forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Duane Vermeulen, Kwagga Smith, Franco Mostert
Halfbacks: Faf de Klerk, Cobus Reinach, Willie le Roux
Centres: Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel
Back Three/ Utility: Damian Willemse (utility back), Cheslin Kolbe and Makazole Mapimpi (wings).
South Africa will launch their Rugby World Cup title defence on Sunday, 10 September, against Scotland in Marseille, which will be followed by pool matches against Romania in Bordeaux (17 September), Ireland in Paris (23 September) and Tonga in Marseille (1 October).