Erasmus names squad for Australia leg of Rugby Championship
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus selected a strong 37-man squad for the first two Tests in the Rugby Championship against Australia.
The squad features 24 Rugby World Cup-winners and five players who made their Test debuts during the home Tests this season.
The five players who earned their first Springbok Test caps in July are Ethan Hooker (utility back), Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Boan Venter (both props), Marnus van der Merwe (hooker), and Cobus Wiese (utility forward).
Meanwhile, Bath prop Thomas du Toit has been granted a compulsory two-week rest as agreed with the Gallagher Premiership. However, he is eligible to be called up at any stage should the need arise, while No 8 Jasper Wiese is currently serving a four-week suspension, ruling him out of this squad.
In total, Erasmus’ squad includes 20 forwards and 17 backline players.
The Springboks will face the Wallabies in Johannesburg on Saturday, August 16, and again a week later on 23 August in Cape Town.
“It’s always challenging to reduce the squad, especially given how the expanded group of players put up their hands during the Castle Lager Incoming Series, but we always said we would select a smaller, more manageable squad during the Castle Lager Rugby Championship,” said Erasmus.
“This group includes several experienced players and a few younger guys, who grabbed their chances in the last few Tests, so we are pleased with this squad for the first two matches.”
Erasmus elaborated on the squad's composition: “We probably have three players who can cover each position, which is important in this competition, so it was a thorough process to narrow down the group to 36 players.
“One of our key pillars as a team is to build squad depth, and there is no better way to see what some of the younger players are capable of than to expose them to some of the top teams in the world.”
Erasmus expected a completely different challenge in the Rugby Championship to that against the Barbarians, Italy, and Georgia, and said: “Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina are all ranked in the top seven in the world, and if one considers that we won the Castle Lager Rugby Championship for the first time since 2019 last year, it is clear that this will be a completely different kettle of fish.
“All three teams have beaten us in the last few years and they play a different style of rugby to the other opposition we have faced thus far, but we are pleased with the foundation we laid in the last few weeks and we know exactly what areas of our game we need to work on going into the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.”
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