Springboks confirm new injury, who will they call up?

Another World Cup winner has been ruled out of the Springboks' end-of-year tour, and it remains to be seen if he will be replaced.

Oct 29, 2024 - 03:00

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Springboks confirm new injury, who will they call up?

The Springboks arrived in Jersey on Monday for a week-long training camp before departing for Scotland for their opening Test of the November internationals.

However, upon arrival, it was officially confirmed that experienced prop Frans Malherbe was forced to remain behind in South Africa due to an ankle injury suffered in the Stormers’ United Rugby Championship match against the Glasgow Warriors.

It’s left only two specialist tighthead props in the squad, namely Vincent Koch, and Wilco Louw – who was also only recently called up after another injury to Jan-Hendrik Wessels.

Thomas du Toit can also cover tighthead, though, and a decision has yet to be made on whether Malherbe will be replaced in the touring squad.

The Rugby Championship title holders will face Scotland in Edinburgh (Sunday 10 November), England in London (Saturday 16 November) and Wales in Cardiff (Saturday 23 November) on their traditional end-of-year tour.

The players based in South Africa over the weekend made the overnight journey from Johannesburg directly to London on Sunday night and had a brief transit at Heathrow Airport before taking a short 40-minute flight to Jersey.

The rest of the travelling contingent arrived from Venice, Montpellier, Bath, Leicester and Dublin respectively.

The players had Monday off to rest and recover from the journey to Jersey, with the squad set to begin their on-field preparations on Tuesday.

Updated Springbok squad for the November tour:

Props: Thomas du Toit (Bath), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Bulls), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Ox Nche (Sharks), Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls).
Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks).
Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), RG Snyman (Leinster).
Loose forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Cameron Hanekom (Bulls), Siya Kolisi (captain, Sharks), Elrigh Louw (Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Scrumhalves: Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Sharks).
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers).
Centres: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).
Outside backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Canan Moodie (Bulls).