16 Springboks staying at home as much-changed side set to face Argentina in Buenos Aires
Deon Fourie and Cobus Reinach at Springboks event.
Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber has named a largely second string squad of 26 players that will head to Buenos Aires for their Test with Argentina.
In what is South Africa’s first official Rugby World Cup warm-up game, the departing group features many players who did not play against Los Pumas at Ellis Park.
The squad will fly out on Sunday morning as Nienaber stressed the need to hand as many players as possible sufficient game time ahead of naming his final squad.
16 players listed as staying at home
South Africa are looking to whittle down their playing group to 33 players, with the August 5 showdown offering a critical chance to impress for the travelling players.
The players in the travelling contingent who were involved in the 22-21 Rugby Championship victory over the Pumas in Johannesburg are forwards Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Trevor Nyakane, Bongi Mbonambi and Marvin Orie and backs Manie Libbok, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Lukhanyo Am and Damian Willemse.
Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Marco van Staden, Duane Vermeulen, Damian de Allende, Faf de Klerk, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard and Grant Williams will remain in South Africa, the Springboks confirmed on Saturday.
South Africa has also announced that with Willemse fully fit and Pollard on the mend after an injury, fly-half Elton Jantjies has been released from the Boks’ squad.
“Next week’s match is the last opportunity for the players to make a strong statement for selection before we name our Rugby World Cup squad, and we are excited to see what those players will deliver in what is going to be a testing encounter in Buenos Aires,” said Nienaber, who leaves several star names on home soil.
“It’s extremely tough to play there, and Argentina enjoys massive support from their vocal home crowd, so it’s not only going to be a physical test for the players, but a mental one as well.
“Many of these players have received some game time in the last few weeks, while a few could get their first run such as Jean-Luc (du Preez) and Herschel (Jantjies), and we know how important it is for them to grab this opportunity with both hands.”
Nienaber said the players who will not travel to Argentina will remain in Johannesburg where they will train under the watchful eye of SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus and a small group of team management members. The other coaches will accompany the travelling squad to Argentina ahead of the fixture.
“We are naming the Rugby World Cup squad in a little over a week and it is important that we have a coach that can work on rugby detail with the players remaining in South Africa and who can keep a close eye on the progress the injured players are making,” said Nienaber. “Hence, we decided it would be best for Rassie to work with them.
“Obviously he’ll still assist the team abroad virtually, and vice-versa to ensure that the players here have all the necessary game and conditioning detail they need to tick the boxes we’d like to do with them before we travel to Cardiff for our next warm-up game.”
Nienaber will announce his matchday squad to face Argentina in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
After the Pumas fixture the Springboks will face Wales in Cardiff (Saturday, August 19) and New Zealand at Twickenham (Friday, August 25) in their final warm-up matches before travelling to Corsica for a one-week training camp en route to France for the Rugby World Cup.
Springboks squad for Argentina clash
Forwards: Thomas du Toit, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Gerhard Steenekamp, Trevor Nyakane, Bongi Mbonambi, Joseph Dweba, Lood de Jager, Jean Kleyn, Marvin Orie, Jean-Luc du Preez, Evan Roos, Jasper Wiese, Deon Fourie, Franco Mostert
Backs: Jaden Hendrikse, Herschel Jantjies, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Jesse Kriel, Makazole Mapimpi, Canan Moodie, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian Willemse
Players remaining in South Africa
Forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Marco van Staden, Duane Vermeulen
Backs: Damian de Allende, Faf de Klerk, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, Grant Williams
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