Springboks get fitness boost ahead of home Rugby Championship Tests against New Zealand
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
South Africa's Jasper Wiese is one World Cup winner who is set to return for the Springboks in their clashes against the All Blacks.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
CAPE TOWN – South Africa have beefed up their squad with several World Cup winners for the two Rugby Championship home Tests against old foes New Zealand, and also offered a recall to lock Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg to boost their second-row options.
Prop Steven Kitshoff, No. 8 Jasper Wiese, scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse, centre Andre Esterhuizen and utility back Canan Moodie all return from injury or suspension to bolster the side who won back-to-back Tests in Australia.
“It’s good to have Steven, Jaden and Canan back from injury, along with Jasper and Andre (who were suspended),” coach Rassie Erasmus said in a media statement from South African Rugby.
“They are all Rugby World Cup winners who have delivered quality performances consistently against the top teams in the world, so they’ll bring experience and their unique skill sets to this squad.
“All these players were members of our training squad in Pretoria in July and our alignment camps earlier in the year. They’ve been regular members in the last few years, so they understand our systems and should slot in with ease.”
Erasmus also confirmed that lock R.G. Snyman, who was part of the squad but missed the two Tests against Australia, should be fit to face New Zealand in the first clash in Johannesburg on Aug 31.
The second game is in Cape Town a week later.
The Springboks lead the Rugby Championship table following their bonus-points wins against Australia, five points ahead of New Zealand, who they beat in the 2023 World Cup final.
“We are currently at the top of the Rugby Championship table but one result can change that, so we realise the importance of giving everything in these matches to keep alive our hopes of winning the title for the first time since 2019,” added Erasmus.
He also warned that the All Blacks will be much tougher opponents than the Wallabies.
“New Zealand are ranked third in the world, and they always test us to the limit,” the Springboks coach said.
“We also saw last week what they can do under pressure when they defeated Argentina 42-10 after going down in their first Test against the Pumas.
“We know these two Tests will provide a completely different challenge to what we’ve faced against an Australian team that is still finding their feet with a new coach and a bunch of young players coming through the ranks.”
The All Blacks, meanwhile, confirmed that lock Patrick Tuipulotu and fullback Stephen Perofeta will miss the tour of South Africa with injury.
They will remain in New Zealand for treatment, the team said in a statement. Both players have calf injuries.
Tuipulotu and Perofeta had already sat out the thrashing of Argentina in Auckland and the previous weekend’s shock defeat by the Pumas in Wellington.
Waikato Chiefs lock Josh Lord and Auckland Blues back Harry Plummer will stay with the squad as cover for the injured pair.
REUTERS, AFP
