Rassie sticks to his guns for Argentina mission
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus named most of the players who were members of the squad that retained the Freedom Cup in New Zealand last weekend.
Erasmus named a 33-man squad for their closing two Rugby Championship matches against Argentina in Durban and London.
The Bok squad will assemble in Durban on Thursday after having a few days off with their families following their return from New Zealand on Sunday night to begin their preparations for the last two matches of the competition.
These rounds will determine whether the Boks retain the title or whether a different team will be crowned the champions this year.
The players ruled out of contention for selection were lock Lood de Jager, loose forward Jean-Luc du Preez, and fullback Aphelele Fassi, who all suffered injuries during the New Zealand tour.
The list also includes props Gerhard Steenekamp and Frans Malherbe, lock Salmaan Moerat, and utility back Kurt-Lee Arendse, who have been on the injury list for different durations in the last few months.
The squad to face Argentina includes 18 forwards and 15 backline players.
The teams will meet at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday, September 27 and at Twickenham Stadium in London on October 4.
Following medical assessments in camp on Thursday, there is a possibility that a further three players could be added to the group later in the week, with a group of up to 30 players set to travel to London for the final match.
As things stand, the Wallabies are currently on 11 points going into their Bledisloe Cup matches against New Zealand, while the Springboks are in second place, and the All Blacks in third place (both on 10 points), while the Pumas are one point back with nine points – with all four teams having won two of their four matches to date.
Springbok squad for the Argentina leg of the Rugby Championship:
Forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), 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), 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), Faf de Klerk (Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Eagles), Manie Libbok (Liners), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Handre Pollard (Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Damian Willemse (Stormers), Grant Williams (Sharks).
