Springboks: Rassie Erasmus names extended 51-man squad as 21 uncapped players included
Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus (left) has named an extended training squad for their double-header later this month
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has named an extended 51-man training squad ahead of their double-header in Gqeberha, with a staggering 21 uncapped players included.
Erasmus’ wider squad will convene on Monday (8 June) in Johannesburg, ahead of the double-header on Saturday, 20 June in which the Springbok A side face Zimbabwe and the Springboks take on the Barbarians.
However, Erasmus is unable to call in any of the players from the Bulls, following their qualification for the URC Grand Final earlier today (Saturday, 6 June).
Springboks name extended 51-man squad for Gqeberha double-header
The Boks boss has a large number of Test rookies within the 51-man squad, including Junior Bok stars Yaqeen Ahmed, Danie Kruger, Luan Giliomee, Vusi Moyo, Oliver Reid, Liam van Wyk, Riley Norton, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Markus Muller and Zekhethelo Siyaya.
Elsewhere, uncapped men Paul de Villiers, Bathobele Hlekani, Hanro Jacobs, Jurenzo Julius, Imad Khan, JJ Kotze, Sibabalwa Mahashe, Haashim Pead, Nico Steyn, Emmanuel Tshituka and Jaco Williams are also included.
Japan-based players who have completed their club duties will join from the outset of the camp, while players based in England will link-up with the group once the PREM season officially concludes, per World Rugby regulation 9.
Commenting on the squad, Erasmus said: “We named a large group of players as we will be selecting a Springbok and SA ‘A’ team for the season-opening double-header in Gqeberha, and this will be beneficial in the long term as we build the squad, looking forward to next year’s Rugby World Cup and beyond.
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“There is also an exciting mix of experienced campaigners and young players in this squad, and this formula has worked well for us in the past to ensure a clear pathway to build depth within the group.
“The coaches have been working around the clock to put the systems in place in the last few months, and the in-person and virtual alignment camps have given most of the players a taste of what to expect, so it’s now a matter of implementing what they learned in the boardroom onto the field.
“We are under no illusions about the challenge ahead this season with two matches against the Barbarians and the SA ‘A’ team against Zimbabwe playing out on the same day, which will be followed by two new competitions in the Nations Championship and Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, so it will be important for the group to build cohesion as quickly as possible and make the most of our field sessions and team meetings to be as well prepared as possible when we take the field.”
Springboks 51-man extended squad in full
Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Paul de Villiers (DHL Stormers), Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers), Bathobele Hlekani (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Hanro Jacobs (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), JJ Kotze (DHL Stormers), Danie Kruger (DHL Stormers), Sibabalwa Mahashe (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Ntuthuko Mchunu (DHL Stormers), Siphosethu Mnebelele (Vodacom Bulls), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Riley Norton (DHL Stormers), Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers), Oliver Reid (DHL Stormers), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Emmanuel Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Liam van Wyk (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Andre-Hugo Venter (DHL Stormers), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks)
Backs: Yaqeen Ahmed (DHL Stormers) Lukhanyo Am (DynaBoars), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Luan Giliomee (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Jurenzo Julius (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Imad Khan (DHL Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Markus Muller (DHL Stormers), Haashim Pead (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Zekhethelo Siyaya (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Nico Steyn (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jaco Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
READ MORE: URC Grand Final confirmed: Leinster v Bulls… fixture, date, kick-off time and how to watch
