UPDATE: Etzebeth replaces loose forward in matchday squad
BREAKING NEWS: Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth has been given the green light to face New Zealand in the Rugby Championship at Ellis Park this Saturday.
The veteran lock looks set to make an appearance off the bench after being initially excluded due to an injury concern earlier this week.
Should Etzebeth take the field, he will earn his 125th Test cap – overtaking Bryan Habana as the second most capped Springbok of all time and edging closer to Victor Matfield’s record of 127 Test caps.
Marco van Staden will miss out on matchday selection after being initially included on the bench, with Etzebeth taking his spot – offering specialist lock cover for the starting combination of Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ruan Nortjé.
“Our selection policy has always been that if a player does not train on a Monday he will not play on Saturday, but Eben has made it through training pain-free all week, so we had to make the tough call to name him in the squad at the expense of Marco,” said Erasmus.
“There were back-up options for us at lock in the initial squad, but with Eben on the bench it means we have another specialist in that position in the team.
“We are blessed to have an expanded squad of about 45 players who have all bought into our plans and who understand what’s best for the team, and it’s admirable how Marco accepted the news. It shows the quality of the player and person he is.”
Meanwhile, Erasmus released four players – Steven Kitshoff (prop), Manie Libbok (flyhalf), Canan Moodie and Makazole Mapimpi (both wings) – to their provincial unions on Wednesday to get game time in the Currie Cup this weekend.
South Africa – revised: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Handre Pollard
Date: Saturday, August 31
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT; Sunday, Septermber 3.00 NZL time)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (England) and Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
