Injury woes for Boks ahead of Test against Portugal
Erasmus is expected to make wholesale changes to the lineup that drew 1-1 in the series with Ireland when he announces his matchday team to face Portugal on Tuesday.
Ireland took on the Springboks at the Kings Park Stadium in Durban, where a last-minute score saw them win 25-24 over the World Cup champions in the second test on 13 July 2024. Picture: X/Springboks
JOHANNESBURG - The Springboks have several injury concerns ahead of this week's historic first-ever Test against Portugal.
Lock Franco Mostert and wing Edwill van der Merwe, who was likely to get another chance in the Bok jersey after his impressive debut against Wales, have been ruled out of the game. Willie Le Roux is also likely to miss the Bloemfontein Test after suffering a concussion in the 25-24 loss to Ireland in Durban on Saturday.
READ: Ireland's Farrell 'does not care' which rugby nation is best after Springboks win
Coach Rassie Erasmus has called up five additional players to the squad in the form of the uncapped trio of Andre-Hugo Venter, Quan Horn and Ruan Venter, along with Elrigh Louw and Ntuthuko Mchunu while Damian de Allende has left the camp for personal reasons.
"It was always part of our planning to expose a few players to top-class international rugby against Portugal in line with our objective to build squad depth with an eye on the 2027 Rugby World Cup," said Erasmus.
Erasmus is expected to make wholesale changes to the lineup that drew 1-1 in the series with Ireland when he announces his matchday team to face Portugal on Tuesday.
Springbok squad for the match against Portugal:
Props: Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ox Nche, Gerhard Steenekamp, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Frans Malherbe, Vincent Koch, Trevor Nyakane, Thomas du Toit.
Hookers: Bongi Mbonambi, Malcolm Marx, Johan Grobbelaar, Andre-Hugo Venter.
Locks: Eben Etzebeth, Salmaan Moerat, RG Snyman.
Loose forwards: Siya Kolisi, Elrigh Louw, Marco van Staden, Phepsi Buthelezi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Ben-Jason Dixon, Evan Roos, Ruan Venter, Kwagga Smith, Jasper Wiese.
Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk, Grant Williams, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg.
Flyhalves: Handre Pollard, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Manie Libbok.
Centres: Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Jesse Kriel.
Outside backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Makazole Mapimpi, Aphelele Fassi, Quan Horn.