Cape Town – The Springboks are gearing up for their tour of the Northern Hemisphere, selecting 26 players for their camp that will run from Sunday until Wednesday, October 26 – and Elton Jantjies has not been selected to be a part of the preparations.
The group includes 17 South African-based players and nine who are currently plying their trade in Japan. All 26 players selected for the three-day camp in Stellenbosch formed part of Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber’s squads that participated in the Castle Lager Incoming Series against Wales and the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
“Canan Moodie, who is nursing a hamstring injury, is among those invited to the camp to allow the Springbok medical team to assess the extent of his injury, especially with the Nienaber and Mzwandile Stick, who will coach the SA ‘A’ team, under the guidance of SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus, set to announce a group of 54 players for the tour,” SA Rugby said in a statement.
The Springboks will play four Tests on consecutive Saturdays next month – against Ireland in Dublin on November 5, France in Marseille on November 12, Italy in Genoa on November 19, and England in London on November 26 on the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour.
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“The SA ‘A’ team, coached by Stick, will play two mid-week matches – against Munster on Thursday, 10 November, and the Bristol Bears a week later on 17 November,” the statement said.
“The Springbok and SA ‘A’ touring squads will be named on Friday, 28 October, with the Bok squad set to gather in Dublin on Sunday, 30 October.
“A further 20 SA ‘A’ players are set to depart for Ireland a week laterm on Saturday, 5 November, to begin their preparations for the clash against Munster in Cork, where they will be joined by a few players from the initial 34-man touring squad for the two SA ‘A’ matches,” it added.
Players invited to Stellenbosch training camp:
Props: Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks), Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe (both DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks)
Hookers: Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks)
Locks: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers)
Loose Forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Siya Kolisi (Cell C Sharks), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs)
Utility Forwards: Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat)
Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk (Yokohama Canon Eagles), Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks)
Flyhalf: Johan Goosen (Vodacom Bulls)
Centres: Jesse Kriel (Yokohama Canon Eagles), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights)
Outside Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Sbu Nkosi (Vodacom Bulls)
Utility Back: Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers)
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Picture: SA Rugby
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Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
