Boks call up scrumhalf as Mbonambi withdraws from squad
SQUAD UPDATE: Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus made a surprise decision on who will replace Bongi Mbonambi, who remained in South Africa for personal reasons.
Experienced scrumhalf Faf de Klerk will join the Springboks in New Zealand for the second leg of their Rugby Championship campaign against the All Blacks, where they will play matches in Auckland and Wellington, as additional cover in the key position.
De Klerk’s inclusion in the squad increases the size of the group currently preparing for the first Test in Auckland to 36 players, after Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi remained behind in South Africa earlier this week to attend to family matters.
The Springboks will face their archrivals, the All Blacks, at Eden Park in Auckland on September 6, before travelling to Wellington for their second match on the tour at the Wellington Regional Stadium on September 13.
This is not the first time Erasmus opted not to replace a hooker with a player playing in the same position.
In 2023, Handre Pollard replaced the injured Malcolm Marx during the World Cup, which the Boks won 12-11 against their greatest foe, New Zealand.
Updated Springbok squad:
Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Spears), Franco Mostert (Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls), Jasper Wiese (D-Rocks).
Backs: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Manie Libbok (Liners), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Handre Pollard (Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers), Faf de Klerk (Eagles).
