Springboks issue squad update ahead of final home match of 2023

Jacques Nienaber has issued a squad update ahead of South Africa’s July 29 match versus Argentina in Johannesburg, the Springboks’ final home outing before the upcoming Rugby World Cup in France.

The South Africans, who opened their season by hammering Australia in Pretoria on July 8, have had a two-day rest following their return home from last weekend’s Rugby Championship loss in New Zealand and they are due to gather later on Wednesday.

A statement read: “The Springboks squad will assemble in Pretoria on Wednesday evening to resume their preparations for their final Castle Lager Rugby Championship match against Argentina in Johannesburg on Saturday, July 29, after a well-deserved two-day rest following their journey back from New Zealand.

“Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber has retained the same extended group of players for the camp, including scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse, who was given time off following a family bereavement, and prop Gerhard Steenekamp – a member of the New Zealand touring squad – who remains as injury cover for Ox Nche, who is recovering from a pectoral muscle injury. Lock Eben Etzebeth will join his teammates on Sunday.

“The match at Emirates Airline Park will be the Boks’ final appearance on South African soil in 2023. It comes after seven successive home sell-outs since the start of the 2022 season.”

Head coach Nienaber said: “We have a settled squad, and everyone is determined to get back to action and to bounce back following the result against New Zealand. We are bitterly disappointed about the defeat, but we will take lessons from that match and implement that as we look forward to our final match in the competition.

“Playing such a vital match in front of our supporters is always special. This match may not only be the decider of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, but it’s also the last match we play at home before the World Cup.

“That passionate support almost serves as an extra player for us, so we would like to appeal to South Africa's rugby faithful to come out in their green and gold and make this a memorable send-off for us.

"One of the boxes we ticked in the last two weeks was to work on our player load. Getting that balance right is going to be vital so that we can peak at the right time this season.

“We have a sizeable squad, and we need to ensure that we give as many players as possible the chance to stake a claim for places in the World Cup squad, while at the same time getting the desired results so that we can build momentum going into the World Cup.

“We have four matches left before the international showpiece and we are still in the race for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship title so we intend to get down to business immediately and make the most of the time we have on and off the training field to get the squad where we would like them to be mentally and physically.”