France’s rugby dominance vanished after their World Cup heartbreak. Did the Springboks’ victory leave lasting damage?
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 of the Springboks, led by two-time Rugby World Cup champion Rassie Erasmus, will gather in the Mother City for a two-day meeting to discuss their plans for the 2024 campaign.
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.
Keeping that in mind, it is surprising that Stormers loose forward Hacjivah Dayimani will not form part of this first camp despite displaying highly impressive form over the first half of the URC season.
Similarly, Aphelele Fassi has shown some encouraging form for the Sharks, having clearly sought to work on certain areas of his game that could bring him back into the Springbok mix.
It should be highlighted, meanwhile, that Erasmus has tried to emphasize that this is the first of three alignment camps before the Springboks lay the foundation for the international season on the field.
He wrote on X, “Guys and ladies just some info.” “Keep in mind that an alignment camp does not imply that particular players will be the sole ones representing the Springboks this season! There’s a reason behind every camp, just like there ever been!
FULL LIST OF PLAYERS INVITED BY RASSIE ERASMUS TO THE FIRST SPRINGBOK ALIGNMENT 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), Jordan Hendrikse (Emirates Lions), 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).
BIG SEASON AHEAD
The first international of the Incoming Series against Portugal and two Test matches against Ireland are on the Springboks’ July schedule.
In the Rugby Championship, the world champions will play two Tests—one at home and one away—against Argentina and then back-to-back Tests against Australia before playing Tests at home and New Zealand.
