Rassie Erasmus responds to shock omission for the Rugby Championship squad. It was challenging
Rassie Erasmus has named a 37-man squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship matches against Australia in South Africa.
The Boks kick off their title defence in Johannesburg on Saturday 16 August before facing the Wallabies again a week later in Cape Town on 23 August.
While Erasmus has named an experienced squad featuring 24 Rugby World Cup winners, five players who made their Test debuts in July have also been included.
They are Ethan Hooker, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe and Cobus Wiese.
2025 World Rugby Under-20 Championship-winning Junior Boks Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste, and Haashim Pead have also been invited to train with the group during their two-week conditioning camp in Johannesburg starting on Sunday 27 July, to orientate them into the Springbok culture.
Bok squad breakdown
Bath prop Thomas du Toit has not been included in the squad after being granted a compulsory two-week rest as agreed with the Gallagher Premiership club. Although the Springboks maintain the ability to call him into the squad at any stage if it arises, SA Rugby confirmed.
Meanwhile, Jasper Wiese misses out as he serves a four-week suspension that rules him out of both matches against Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies as well as the clash against the All Blacks at Eden Park.
Erasmus has also confirmed a seven-man stand-by list, which includes centre Lukhanyo Am, who missed the July internationals due to a knee injury. He is joined by winger Makazole Mapimpi, scrum-half Faf de Klerk, lock Salmaan Moerat, back-rower Evan Roos, tighthead prop Neethling Fouche and flanker Vincent Tshituka. In total, Erasmus’ squad includes 20 forwards and 17 backline players.
Moerat captained the Springboks for the first time last year and did so again in July, leading the side in the second Test match against Italy.
It’s always challenging to reduce the squad, especially given how the expanded group of players put up their hands during the Castle Lager Incoming Series, but we always said we would select a smaller, more manageable squad during the Castle Lager Rugby Championship,” said Erasmus.
