Springboks call up another player as doubt lingers over Ox Nche
· The South African
As the Springboks continue their preparations for the one-off Test against Argentina, and the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (RGR) series against the All Blacks, Rassie Erasmus has expanded the squad in Johannesburg to 44 players.
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Talented prop Ntuthuko Mchunu – who earned his fourth Test cap against Scotland during the Nations Championship earlier this month – has been recalled the national squad.
The 27-year-old had initially been released back to the Stormers after the July internationals, but he has now rejoined the squad at a time when Ox Nche remains sidelined due to a knee injury.
Nche suffered the injury early on in South Africa’s Nations Championship opening win against England at Ellis Park. While Erasmus initially feared a long-term setback, follow-up scans provided encouraging news, but it remains unclear whether he will be ready in time for the start of the All Blacks series.
Springbok squad that’s gathered in Johannesburg:
Props: Thomas du Toit (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers), Carlu Sadie (Bordeaux Begles), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Ntuthuko Mchunu (Stormers).
Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears).
Locks: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Kubota Spears).
Loose forwards: Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon (both DHL Stormers), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Utility forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (all Vodacom Bulls).
Scrumhalves: Herschel Jantjies (Bayonne), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Morne van den Berg (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Grant Williams (Kobe Steelers).
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls).
Centres: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).
Outside and utility backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Mitsubishi Dynaboars), Aphelele Fassi (Toshiba), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Cheslin Kolbe (DHL Stormers), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).
Boks preparing for next challenge
The squad assembled in Johannesburg on Sunday evening and resumed their on-field preparations on Monday. The Bok coach is set to name his travelling squad to Argentina for the Test in Buenos Aires on Saturday, 8 August, later in the week, with that group of players and management departing for Argentina in two groups on Saturday.
The remaining players will zoom in on the matches against New Zealand under the guidance of a few coaches, medical staff, and management members at their training base in Johannesburg.