Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber on Saturday night named a group of 21 players to join their team-mates in New Zealand for next week’s second Castle Lager Rugby Championship outing against New Zealand in Auckland bringing the total number of players to 35.
The group includes Duane Vermeulen – who captained the Springboks in their emphatic 43-12 victory against Australia at Loftus Versfeld in their opening match of the southern hemisphere showpiece – as well as the front row of Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe (both props), Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), and backs Manie Libbok (flyhalf), Lukhanyo Am (centre), Cobus Reinach and Grant Williams (both scrumhalves).
A group of 13 players travelled to New Zealand on Tuesday, which included injured skipper Siya Kolisi and a few team management members, while Vodacom Bulls prop Gerhard Steenekamp made the journey on Wednesday as an injury replacement for Ox Nche, taking the number of players in New Zealand to 14.
This group will depart for New Zealand late on Sunday afternoon and arrive in Auckland late on Monday night.
Nienaber, SA Rugby Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus and Bok assistant coach Felix Jones departed for New Zealand immediately after the Pretoria battle, which will allow them to get down to business on the field from Monday, giving them a full week of training.
“It was always part of our planning that some of the players who ran out in the Test against Australia would travel to New Zealand, and given some impressive performances today, we decided to take a few more players than we originally planned for,” said Erasmus.
“We now have the luxury of having a bunch of fresh of players to work with in New Zealand from Monday, and they’ll be joined by a group who have experienced the physicality of Australia and who can add energy and momentum at training from Tuesday.
“We’ll analyse the match on our journey to New Zealand and then announce our team to face the All Blacks on Tuesday.”
Additional Springbok players travelling to New Zealand:
Forwards: Thomas du Toit (prop), Pieter-Steph du Toit (loose forward), Deon Fourie (utility forward), Steven Kitshoff (prop), Jean Kleyn (lock), Vincent Koch (prop) Frans Malherbe (prop), Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), Trevor Nyakane (prop), RG Snyman (lock), Marco van Staden (flank), Duane Vermeulen (No 8).
Backs: Lukhanyo Am (centre), Kurt-Lee Arendse (wing), Andre Esterhuizen (centre), Herschel Jantjies (scrumhalf), Willie le Roux (fullback), Manie Libbok (flyhalf),Cobus Reinach (scrumhalf), Damian Willemse (utility back), Grant Williams (scrumhalf).
Bliss
160 international Rugby caps and still going – Alun Wyn Jones of Wales is a behemoth in the sport. He has over 160 international caps to his name and he’s still going. He’s played at 4 world cups (2007-2019) which is a record, has played in 4 Lions Tours (2009-2021), which is also a record, and has clocked up over 225 appearances for the Ospreys too. Someone needs to check in his loft for a portrait of himself, because this guy just keeps going and going.
Junkyard Dog
The All Blacks are one of the most successful teams in sporting history – The New Zealand All Blacks are one of the most successful teams in sporting history. Since 1903 when they played their first ever game, they have a win percentage of 78% in nearly 600 games. That stat is absolutely crazy when you think about it. They’ve also won 3 Rugby World Cups (though arguably should have won all of them apart from 1991 and 2003). They were also the first rugby team to win 500 test matches, one of many records establishing the All Blacks the world’s best team. Can you imagine winning 78% of all your games you play!?