With Rassie Erasmus naming an extended 43-man squad for the Springboks’ first alignment camp, we pick out three big surprises
The Springboks will assemble for the first time in March for a two-day alignment camp, which will be the team’s first meeting since their 2023 Rugby World Cup victory in France.
On Monday, March 4, the coaching staff—led by two-time Rugby World Cup champion Rassie Erasmus—will gather in the Mother City for a two-day meeting to discuss strategies for the 2024 campaign.
Out of the forty-three players, 39 are from within the country, and the remaining four are from Japan. Currently recovering from injuries, the four players are in South Africa. To bring everyone up to date on the plans for this season, the group will convene on Tuesday, March 5 for two days of boardroom discussions.
THREE SURPRISES IN SPRINGBOKS’ ALIGNMENT CAMP
Two in-form players miss out
With 43 players chosen for this inaugural camp, Rassie Erasmus is certainly throwing caution to the wind by choosing to examine a number of domestic players who have clearly captured his attention.
In light of this, it is unexpected that Stormers loose forward Hacjivah Dayimani, who has shown really remarkable form throughout the first half of the URC season, will not be included in this initial camp.
Remember that every player selected for this first camp will have been carefully chosen, and that doesn’t mean a player who is left off the roster now won’t be included in the team’s plans for later in the season.
Dayimani, 26, seems to still have enough of talent, and there are rumors that he could still make the Bok roster this season. It is possible that he will participate in a camp in the future, but one has to wonder why he is not included right now.
Aphelele Fassi, meantime, has played well for the Sharks and appears to have made an effort to improve on specific aspects of his game that might help him rejoin the Springbok squad.
Another player that many would have predicted to get selected for this initial alignment camp is the gifted fullback. He will now need to make sure he reacts by giving the Sharks a string of standout performances.
Cheetahs hooker earns surprise call-up
The inclusion of 26-year-old Marnus van der Merwe, who has mainly gone unnoticed, was one that many did not anticipate.
Van der Merwe had a terrific Currie Cup season the previous year, helping the Cheetahs win the domestic championship. He has also shown promising results in the Challenge Cup.
Although it’s unlikely that the seasoned hooker will stay in the group when it is reduced later in the season, Van der Merwe’s extraordinarily accurate lineout throwing is likely what also pleased the Springboks coaches. This is unquestionably a fantastic opportunity for the bulky forward.
Additionally, Joseph Dweba, who was on the World Cup standby list, is not included in this first group.
Omission of Deon Fourie
The absence of Deon Fourie from an unusually lengthy list of players who were located in the area was another noteworthy revelation from the team announcement.
It should be emphasized that Fourie may still be called up in the future because this will be the first of three alignment camps before the Springboks put the foundation in place for the international season on the field.
However, given that Fourie will be 41 years old at the next World Cup, there’s a very real chance that the Springboks will be eager to examine their “next gen” alternatives, with young, uncapped hookers like Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar, and Andre-Hugo Venter earning the nod.
SQUAD FOR FIRST CAMP (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER):
Forwards: Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers), Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Celimpilo Gumede (Vodacom Bulls), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), Andre-Hugo Venter (DHL Stormers), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Ntuthuko Mchunu (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Marnus van der Merwe (Toyota Cheetahs), Ruben van Heerden (DHL Stormers), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Ruan Venter (Emirates Lions), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls).
Backs: Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Suleiman Hartzenberg (DHL Stormers), Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Emirates Lions), Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Sanele Nohamba (Emirates Lions), Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions), Henco van Wyk (Emirates Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).
