Springboks issue update on 33-man squad and Willie Le Roux

Springbok fullback Willie le Roux has been called into the national squad ahead of Saturday’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash with Argentina at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban.

Le Roux will join the group on Sunday and train with the Boks until Wednesday.

The 36-year-old veteran will then return to the Bulls, making him available for their United Rugby Championship opener against the Ospreys at Loftus Versfeld.

Head coach Rassie Erasmus named a 33-man squad for South Africa’s final two fixtures of the competition against the Pumas.

The second match takes place at Twickenham on 4 October.

Erasmus said Le Roux’s short-term involvement was designed to sharpen preparations.

“Willie is a member of our wider squad, and we feel it will benefit us to have him train with us early in the week,” said Erasmus. “We try to train the way we play, and by having him in camp it will allow us to improve the quality of our training sessions ahead of this vital match.

“Every point will count in the next two games if we want to win the competition, so it’s essential that we get the most out of our training time to be as sharp as possible when we take the field.”

The Boks assembled in Durban last Thursday following their return from New Zealand after shellacking
the All Blacks. They have already held two training sessions.

The men in green and gold currently sit second on the Rugby Championship standings with ten points. 

They are level with the All Blacks and one behind leaders Australia, while Felipe Contepomi’s Argentina are fourth on nine points. All four sides in contention for the title heading into the final two rounds.

“I’d like to thank Johan Ackermann and the Vodacom Bulls for releasing him to train with us, and we wish them and the other South African teams the best of luck for the opening round of the Vodacom URC.”