Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus released nine players who are not involved in Saturday’s series decider against Ireland in the Castle Lager Incoming Series at Hollywoodbets Kings Park to their provincial unions on Wednesday afternoon, as they look ahead to next week’s closing match of the series against Portugal in Bloemfontein.
Six of the nine players, all of whom will rejoin the Boks on Sunday, have Test caps. They are Trevor Nyakane (prop), Makazole Mapimpi, Edwill van der Merwe (both wings), Andre Esterhuizen, Lukhanyo Am (both centres) and Aphelele Fassi (fullback), with the other three players being Jan-Hendrik Wessels (prop), Phepsi Buthelezi (loose forward), and Morne van den Berg (scrumhalf).
These players are expected to inject some experience and skill into their respective Carling Currie Cup teams, while at the same time getting valuable game time as the coaching staff cast an eye on their historic Test against Portugal.
“We have a big squad at the moment, and as valuable as it is to have so many players at training, it’s important that we keep the players match fit,” said Erasmus.
“Playing in the Carling Currie Cup is ideal since we are locally based, and the players are only a flight away. We finished the groundwork for Saturday’s Test on Wednesday with the entire squad, and we only have the captain’s run left on Friday, so it makes sense to send some players to their unions to play some rugby.
“This will not only keep them sharp as individuals, it will also assist our cause if we do well against Ireland this week and decide to mix things up in terms of team selection against Portugal.”
Erasmus praised the players for their hard work and dedication at training since joining the squad and he was confident that most of them would make their Springbok debuts at some stage this season as the team builds toward to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
“Some of the players played against Wales at Twickenham and I’m sure they are excited to get back onto the field in a proper match before joining us again on Sunday,” said Erasmus, “while the other players haven’t played rugby in a few weeks – although they have trained hard and with intent for us.
“The reality is that there is no substitute for real game time. We know they’ll return even sharper and hopefully we can give many of them a chance against Portugal.”
Erasmus added: “Building squad depth has been one of our key pillars since 2018, and as I’ve said we are building toward to 2027, so it’s important that we give a few of the young players a chance to prove themselves at top international level.
Night Magnet
There\’s only one person who witnessed Jim Laker and Anil Kumble taking 10 wickets in an innings – As a 10-year-old Richard Stokes witnessed Jim Laker taking all 10 wickets in the 1956 Old Trafford Test against Australia. Forty-three years later he was in India watching the India vs Pakistan Test and saw Anil Kumble taking all the 10 wickets in an innings. These were the only two Tests Stokes has watched in his life.
Baby Brown
Sport Trivia: Gary player, one of the worlds golfing greats, won a particular major tournament over three different decades, during the \’50s, \’60s, and the 1970s. Which tournament was it? Answer: The British Open. Gary Player won the British Open in 1959, 1968, and 1974. He was also the first non-American golfer to win the US Masters. Player won 163 tournaments all over the world during his career, and was the first South African to win golf\’s Grand Slam of the U.S. Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, and U.S. PGA titles.