Stormers duo make way for Sharks

SQUAD UPDATE: Lwazi Mvovo is one of eight players from the Sharks who have been added to the Springbok training squad.

They will join the camp on Thursday in Stellenbosch, where the group is currently busy with preparations for the next month’s Rugby Championship.

The Durban-based group consists of four forwards, namely Tendai Mtawarira (prop), Thomas du Toit (prop), Armand van der Merwe (hooker) and Jean-Luc du Preez (loose forward) and also four backs – Lukhanyo Am (centre), André Esterhuizen (centre), Makazole Mapimpi (wing) and Mvovo (wing).

Players from the Lions will be added to the training squad once they have completed their Super Rugby commitments. The Gautengers play the Waratahs in a semifinal match on Saturday in Johannesburg.

Meanwhile, Stormers players Cobus Wiese and John Schickerling have both been released from the training camp back to the Western Province Currie Cup team.

The Springbok coaching and conditioning staff are managing the workload of the national players after a strenuous Super Rugby campaign, which for instance sees resting periods for several Springboks who were involved in the June internationals.

The updated Springbok training squad:

Forwards: Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), Thomas du Toit (Sharks), Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), Steven Kitshoff (Stormers), Siyamthanda Kolisi (Stormers), Wilco Louw (Stormers), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers), Salmaan Moerat (Stormers), Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Stormers), Trevor Nyakane (Bulls), Coenraad Oosthuizen (Sharks), Rudolph Snyman (Bulls), Armand van der Merwe (Sharks), Marco van Staden (Bulls).

Backs: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Damian de Allende (Stormers), André Esterhuizen (Sharks), Warrick Gelant (Bulls), Jesse Kriel (Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), Embrose Papier (Bulls), Handré Pollard (Bulls), Ivan van Zyl (Bulls), Damian Willemse (Stormers).

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