Springbok injury woes: Rassie insists SA have enough players available

Springbok scrumhalf Grant Williams has returned from injury in time for the start of the international season. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images South Africa have more than enough players to choose from for their season-opening Springbok v Barbarians non-Test and SA ‘A’ v Zimbabwe matches in Gqeberha on 20 June, despite an extensive injury list and the entire Bulls squad being unavailable, head coach Rassie Erasmus said. Erasmus outlined the state of preparations for the international season on Thursday afternoon, saying the teams to play those two games had already been selected.

He saidthe Springbokswere hoping to win all their matches this season. That meant selecting their best-possible team to face England in their opening Nations Championship fixture on 4 July. There, Erasmus said Bulls players, riding a wave of confidence from theirURC final against Leinster, whether they win or lose that, would be immediately drafted into the camp.

“We want to beat England, Scotland and Wales to be in the mix for the end of the year… We want a great start,” Erasmus said. In the meantime, the50-odd player basecomprises many uncapped youngsters and players normally on the fringe of selection, who will get a run-in against the Barbarians and Zimbabwe. He said Kwagga Smith and RG Snyman were the only regular Springboks with long-term injuries.

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Uncapped Bulls wing Sebastian de Klerk would also be unavailable until next season. Otherwise, Kai Pratt, Marnus van der Merwe, Frans Malherbe, Trevor Nyakane, Ruan Venter, Deon Fourie, Jean-luc du Preez, Juarno Augustus, Morné van den Berg, Jordan and Jaden Hendrikse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Henco van Wyk, Francke Horne, Salmaan Moerat and Bronson Mills were unavailable but expected to return at some point. Recently injured Grant Williams and Malcolm Marx are already fit, while Eben Etzebeth should return in time for England.

Cobus Reinach would also be ready for England but may be rested. Erasmus said players who have had a large load recently, such as Damian de Allende and Damian Willemse, may also be rested.

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