Springboks latest: When Rassie Erasmus will name his team to face Japan with star duo in doubt
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus and an inset of Damian Willemse.
The full Springboks squad assembles in the United Kingdom today ahead of the meeting with Japan at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
Different groups have departed for London over the last few days as preparation ramps up for the first of five end-of-year tour internationals with further clashes against France, Italy, Ireland and Wales.
When will Rassie Erasmus name the Boks squad?
SA Rugby have confirmed that head coach Rassie Erasmus will name the Springboks team to face Eddie Jones’ Japan on Tuesday afternoon at around 5 pm (South African time)/3 pm (UK).
Due to the fact that the match against Japan falls outside of World Rugby’s official international window, the likes of Jean Kleyn, RG Snyman, and Thomas du Toit will be unavailable for selection.
The trio ply their trade with Irish and English clubs, which are not required to release the players under World Rugby regulations, but Erasmus is able to select players who represent Japanese clubs, having come to an agreement with those teams.
“The Japan game is set up for us for the Japan-based players who don’t currently play in the league and for some players who are coming back from injury,” Erasmus explained last month.
Bulls forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels is unlikely to be available for the meeting with Japan, too, after being slapped with a nine-week ban for allegedly groping Connacht’s Josh Murphy in round four of the United Rugby Championship.
Wessels is set to appeal the ban, but it’s unclear whether a decision will be made in time for Erasmus’ team announcement on Tuesday.
Exclusive: Full details emerge of Jan-Hendrik Wessels’ ban and Josh Murphy’s role in it
Meanwhile, there is doubt around Damian Willemse’s availability after he sustained a suspected hamstring injury in the Stormers’ victory over Benetton at the weekend.
Looking forward to the tour on Sunday, the Bok boss admitted that it would be challenging with five Test matches lined up and the quality of the opposition they are facing abroad.
“We are excited about the tour and to measure ourselves against some of the best teams in the world,” said Erasmus.
“A lot of hard work has been put in behind the scenes since the Castle Lager Rugby Championship for this tour, and hopefully this will set us in good standing to build on our season so far.
“Obviously, the conditions are vastly different in the UK and Europe to South Africa this time of the year, but fortunately, most of the players in the squad have been exposed to those conditions either during their Vodacom United Rugby Championship tours or by playing for overseas clubs.
“The time zone is also very similar to South Africa, which means we can slot back into full Test mode immediately from our first training session on Monday.”
The clash at Wembley sees Japan and South Africa collide in England, 10 years on from the Brave Blossoms’ shock victory over the Springboks at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Eddie Jones makes ‘better than 2015’ claim as Springboks lie in wait at Wembley
The tour ahead
Jones’ charges head into the match off the back of a narrow 15-19 defeat to the Wallabies last week, and Erasmus expects them to come out firing on Saturday.
“Japan have been improving steadily over the last few years, and they defeated us a few years ago, so we have no doubt they will come out guns blazing next Saturday and throw everything at us,” the Bok boss said.
Looking beyond Japan, he continued, “The last time we faced France in Paris was in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final, and that result will psyche them up going into the match against them. They are also ranked fourth in the world currently, and Ireland third, and we all know how tough matches at the Aviva Stadium are against them.
“Italy, meanwhile, put up a brave fight against us in Pretoria in the Castle Lager Incoming Series, and that will give them confidence going into our match in Turin, and Wales will also be up for the challenge after recovering from a tough few years earlier this season, when we line up against them at the Principality Stadium, so we need to be ready mentally and physically each week to get the desired results.
“It won’t be easy, but we have a quality group of players, and we know what they are capable of doing when we stick to our structures and play to our potential on the day.”
