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Springboks issue squad update ahead of final home match of 2023
Jacques Nienaber has issued a squad update ahead of South Africa’s July 29 match versus Argentina in Johannesburg, the Springboks’ final home outing before the upcoming Rugby World Cup in France.
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The South Africans, who opened their season by hammering Australia in Pretoria on July 8, have had a two-day rest following their return home from last weekend’s Rugby Championship loss in New Zealand and they are due to gather later on Wednesday.
A statement read: “The Springboks squad will assemble in Pretoria on Wednesday evening to resume their preparations for their final Castle Lager Rugby Championship match against Argentina in Johannesburg on Saturday, July 29, after a well-deserved two-day rest following their journey back from New Zealand.
“Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber has retained the same extended group of players for the camp, including scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse, who was given time off following a family bereavement, and prop Gerhard Steenekamp – a member of the New Zealand touring squad – who remains as injury cover for Ox Nche, who is recovering from a pectoral muscle injury. Lock Eben Etzebeth will join his teammates on Sunday.
“The match at Emirates Airline Park will be the Boks’ final appearance on South African soil in 2023. It comes after seven successive home sell-outs since the start of the 2022 season.”
Head coach Nienaber said: “We have a settled squad, and everyone is determined to get back to action and to bounce back following the result against New Zealand. We are bitterly disappointed about the defeat, but we will take lessons from that match and implement that as we look forward to our final match in the competition.
“Playing such a vital match in front of our supporters is always special. This match may not only be the decider of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, but it’s also the last match we play at home before the World Cup.
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“That passionate support almost serves as an extra player for us, so we would like to appeal to South Africa’s rugby faithful to come out in their green and gold and make this a memorable send-off for us.
“One of the boxes we ticked in the last two weeks was to work on our player load. Getting that balance right is going to be vital so that we can peak at the right time this season.
“We have a sizeable squad, and we need to ensure that we give as many players as possible the chance to stake a claim for places in the World Cup squad, while at the same time getting the desired results so that we can build momentum going into the World Cup.
“We have four matches left before the international showpiece and we are still in the race for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship title so we intend to get down to business immediately and make the most of the time we have on and off the training field to get the squad where we would like them to be mentally and physically.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Utter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
2 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
2 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
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