Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus named a team featuring 10 changes to the starting XV for their second Castle Lager Rugby Championship match against Australia in Cape Town on Saturday, with Jesse Kriel leading the side for the second time in a Test, with returns for Cheslin Kolbe, Damian de Allende, and Bok centurion Willie le Roux.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has called up experienced Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi to the squad ahead of their final Castle Lager Rugby Championship match against Australia in Cape Town on Saturday, as captain Siya Kolisi and Kurt-Lee Arendse were released due to injury.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said his team’s unexpected defeat by Australia in a Castle Lager Rugby Championship match at Ellis Park was “really awful” and admitted he was embarrassed to appear at the post-match press conference.
The Springboks were left stunned after the Wallabies staged a comeback to secure a 38-22 victory at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick and captain Siya Kolisi said their Castle Lager Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies at Ellis Park on Saturday would be their toughest Test so far this season, but they were confident the team were at the level they needed to be going into the encounter.
Springbok prop Boan Venter will provide front-row cover off the bench in Saturday’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship opener against Australia after coach Rassie Erasmus was forced to make a late change to his team following the withdrawal of Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Springbok Women performance coach Swys de Bruin described his team’s departure to the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England as “the wrapped bicycle under the Christmas tree” and said they are well prepared for their most significant tournament in three years.
The fourth round of the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division kicks off on Friday at 15h00 in Kimberley, where Suzuki Griquas will be eager to increase their points tally when they host the winless Hollywoodbets Sharks XV.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV are back on the road for the third time in four weeks as they travel to Kimberley to take on the Suzuki Griquas in a Carling Currie Cup fourth round clash against the 2022 finalists on Friday afternoon.
SA Rugby and Vodacom have expanded their partnership, which dates back to 1995, with a historic new sponsorship deal as the first and exclusive official telecommunications partner to all the national teams and competitions.