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 coach Rassie Erasmus named a strong team for the side’s opening Castle Lager Rugby Championship match against Australia at Ellis Park on Saturday, with the matchday squad featuring 18 Rugby World Cup winners and only one player who made his Test debut during the Castle Lager Incoming Series.
The Springboks wrapped up their two-week conditioning camp in Johannesburg where they continued to put in the hard yards for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, and the excitement among the three Junior Springbok World Rugby U20 Championship winners was etched on their faces after what they described as an opportunity of a lifetime.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said the team were gearing up for a testing Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign, which kicks off against the Wallabies on Saturday 16 August in Johannesburg, and stressed the importance of their two-week training camp saying it was vital in ensuring that the coaches, players, and entire management team were aligned and prepared for the competition.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus selected a strong 37-man squad for the first two Tests in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship against Australia, featuring 24 Rugby World Cup-winners and five players who made their Test debuts during their successful Castle Lager Incoming Series.
Mr Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby, paid tribute to former Springbok captain and flanker Des van Jaarsveldt, who passed away earlier on Monday at the age of 96.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said he would revert to a more settled squad for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship after completing the July series with a nine try romp against Georgia at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.
The Springboks closed out their final Castle Lager Incoming Series Test in spectacular fashion at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday, outplaying a plucky Georgian side by 55-10 with nine pulsating tries in a match that delivered all that was promised to the big crowd in attendance.
Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe, and Neethling Fouche will all make their Springbok debuts against Georgia in Nelspruit on Saturday as double Rugby World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi returns from injury to take over the captaincy for first time this season in an exciting squad named by Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus for the final Castle Lager Incoming Series match at the Mbombela Stadium.
Springbok No 8 Jasper Wiese has been suspended for four matches following a World Rugby disciplinary hearing on Tuesday for the red card he received in last week’s 45-0 victory against Italy.