South Africa have trimmed their squad by six and will take 28 players to Argentina, where the Springboks will face the Pumas in Mendoza in the Rugby Championship on Saturday. Coach Rassie Erasmus sprung no surprises when the named the tour party yesterday, one day after South Africa beat Argentina 34-21 in their opening match of the annual four-nations southern hemisphere competition.
Loose forwards Jean-Luc du Preez and Sikhumbuzo Notshe, lock Marvin Orie, Ross Cronje (scrumhalf), Jesse Kriel (centre) and winger Lwazi Mvovo were all dropped while uncapped flanker Cyle Brink underwent surgery last week to repair damage suffered to his injured knee.
Erasmus said South Africa showed their real potential for only 20 minutes in win over Argentina, but it was on expected lines with several key players returning after layoffs. Players like Eben Etzebeth, Malcolm Marx and Warren Whiteley were in the side after missing June’s three tests against England while England-based Faf de Klerk and Francois Louw were fresh from post-season holidays.
It made for a disjointed and error-ridden showing although in the end pure force and aggression saw the Springboks to a comfortable bonus-point victory. Erasmus said South Africa had their momentum stymied by the Pumas who were effective in slowing down the ball but “lucky the boys fixed it in the second half”.
South Africa squad
Forwards: Thomas du Toit (Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Steven Kitshoff, Siya Kolisi (all Stormers), Francois Louw (Bath), Wilco Louw, Frans Malherbe (both Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Lions), Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers), Franco Mostert (Gloucester), Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), RG Snyman (Bulls), Akker van der Merwe (Sharks), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Warren Whiteley (Lions)
Backs: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks), Aphiwe Dyantyi (Lions), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Elton Jantjies (Lions), Willie le Roux (Wasps), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Lionel Mapoe (Lions), Embrose Papier, Handré Pollard, Ivan van Zyl (all Bulls), Damian Willemse (Stormers).
Argentina’s Bautista Delguy (left) is tackled by South Africa’s Aphiwe Dyantyi (bottom) and Handre Pollard during the Rugby Championship in Durban on Saturday. (AFP)
