Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has made the surprising decision to call up one-cap fly-half Jordan Hendrikse to his squad to replace injured tighthead prop Frans Malherbe.
An ankle injury has ruled Malherbe out of the Autumn Nations Series Tests against Scotland, England and Wales this November.
The double World Cup winner sustained the injury in the Stormers’ United Rugby Championship clash against the Glasgow Warriors in Stellenbosch last Saturday and has now been replaced in Erasmus’ touring squad by Hendrikse.
Hendrikse replaces Malherbe
Malherbe is the third player who has been forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury following Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Damian Willemse’s injuries.
Erasmus opted to call up prop Wilco Louw and hooker Johan Grobbelaar to cover Wessels’ injury while calling up uncapped loose-forward Cameron Hanekom for utility back Damian Willemse.
Now with Malherbe’s withdrawal, Erasmus explained that they believe they have enough front-row cover in the form of Louw, Thomas du Toit, Vincent Koch, Ox Nche and Gerhard Steenekamp that they could call upon Hendrikse who will link up with the squad on Thursday in Jersey.
“Jordan has been playing very well for the Sharks in the URC and he’s a capped Springbok, so he is familiar with our structures,” said Erasmus.
“This will also serve as a great opportunity for him to get further exposure at international level and in the Springbok set-up itself. We also have good depth among the forwards, so we opted to call up Jordan to add further depth among the backs.
“He’s a talented player, and he’s been growing in the role at his union as we saw with his late penalty goal to earn the Sharks the Carling Currie Cup title earlier this season, and through his recent performances in the URC, so we are excited to see what he can add to the squad.”
Erasmus added: “With the UK and South Africa being in similar time zones it would be simple to call up another prop should the need arise during the tour.”
Hendrikse will join his brother Jaden Hendrikse in the squad and will look to add to his single Test cap after debuting in South Africa’s first game of the year against Wales at Twickenham. The fly-half, who has also played full-back for the Sharks recently, has impressed off the tee in recent games in the URC and was also on Erasmus’ standby squad list for the July internationals.
Updated Springbok squad for Autumn Nations Series:
Fowards: Thomas du Toit, Vincent Koch, Wilco Louw, Ox Nche, Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Ruan Nortje, RG Snyman, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Cameron Hanekom, Siya Kolisi, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Marco van Staden, Jasper Wiese
Backs: Jaden Hendrikse, Cobus Reinach, Grant Williams, Jordan Hendrikse, Manie Libbok, Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Jesse Kriel, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Makazole Mapimpi, Canan Moodie
