Springboks add prop to squad for Argentina and Greatest Rivalry series

Rassie Erasmus has increased the size of his Springboks squad to 44 players, following the addition of prop Ntuthuko Mchunu.

Mchunu joins the team’s preparations for the one-off Test against Argentina and the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (RGR) series against New Zealand as the Springboks leap back into Test match mode following a week off.

The 27-year-old earned his fourth Test cap off the bench against Scotland during the Nations Championship earlier this month, having made three previous appearances as a replacement.

Mchunu’s Test career has been spread out over four years, with his debut coming in the shock 13-12 home defeat to Wales in Bloemfontein in July 2022.

Erasmus is set to name his travelling squad to Argentina for the Test in Buenos Aires on 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 focus on the matches against New Zealand, with the eagerly-awaited Test series against the All Blacks commencing at 10bet Ellis Park on Saturday, 22 August.

Updated Springbok squad:

Props: Thomas du Toit (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers), Ntuthuko Mchunu (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers), Carlu Sadie (Bordeaux Begles), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Fidelity Securedrive Lions).

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).

Scrum-halves: Herschel Jantjies (Bayonne), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Morne van den Berg ( Lions), Grant Williams (Kobe Steelers).

Fly-halves: 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).