The long wait is finally over!
Springbok coach, Jacques Nienaber announced his squad of 33 that will take on the rest of the world at the Rugby World Cup in France from 8 September to 28 October.
There was a lot of speculation as to who would make the squad of 33 with the three names of Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am and Lood de Jager leading the charge of players who will not be on the plane to France.
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No surprises here!
As expected, Injury-prone Handre Pollard and recently injured Lukhanyo Am, as well as Lood de Jager are missing out on the showpiece.
However, Nienaber also announced nine players who would be placed on standby – five of whom will travel with the team to Cardiff and London for their last two RWC warm-up matches against Wales (19 August) and New Zealand (25 August).
The nine players are Am, De Jager, Jean-Luc du Preez, Thomas du Toit, Joseph Dweba, Herschel Jantjies, Pollard, Evan Roos (No 8) and Gerhard Steenekamp. The five travelling to the UK on Saturday are Du Toit, Du Preez, Dweba, Pollard and Am.
Return of the *Kolisi Glow*.
He’s back! Captain “My Captain” Siya Kolisi Kolisi, is expected to be back in action against Wales in two weeks, will captain the Springbok team for the second time at the Rugby World Cup when they take the field in France.
Ox Nche and Jaden Hendrikse – who have not appeared for the Boks in the past four matches – are also expected to return in the final two warm-up matches.
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South Africa – this is your world cup team:
- Marco van Staden
- Jasper Wiese
- Andre Esterhuizen
- Marvin Orie
- RG Snyman
- Jean Kleyn
- Canan Moodie
- Vincent Koch
- Ox Nche
- Kwagga Smith
- Faf de Klerk
- Cheslin Kolbe
- Manie Libbok
- Damian Willemse
- Makazole Mapimpi
- Jesse Kriel
- Deon Fourie
- Kurt-Lee Arendse
- Grant Williams
- Jaden Hendrickse
- Cobus Reinach
- Frans Malherbe
- Bongi Mbonambi
- Malcolm Marx
- Trevor Nyakane
- Pieter Steph du Toit
- Damian de Allende
- Steven Kitschoff
- Franco Mostert
- Willie le Roux
- Duane Vermeulen
- Eben Etzebeth
- Siya Kolisi
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