How the NINE Stand-by players could join Springboks
For those still wondering if the nine stand-by players could still be called up to the Springboks’ squad. Here are the details.
The Rugby World Cup 2023 kicks off on Friday, 8 September when France take on the All Blacks, and the Springboks will kick off their campaign two days later against Scotland in Marseille on Sunday, 10 September with nine stand-by players waiting in the wings.
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Although there have been plenty of rumours and conspiracy theories around whether the Springboks could belatedly have a plan to call up the likes of Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am or Lood de Jager, the fact of the matter is that these players – and others on the standby list – will remain out of the picture unless there are injuries to the existing squad.
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The nine stand-by players have returned to their clubs after this past Friday’s Test against the All Blacks, and will only feature at the World Cup if there is a legitimate reason that sees the Springboks ‘lose’ a member of the 33-man group due to an injury, or alternatively if someone left the camp due to breaching team protocols, or for personal reasons.
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“If there’s an injury, we would change the composition, but there are no injuries currently. If it does, then obviously we’ll change things. The World Cup final, for example, is still weeks away. Things can change,” coach Jacques Nienaber recently said.
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“If there’s any injuries, we can still even see a guy like Lood coming back in. Any of the nine stand-by players are in the frame. Jean-Luc du Preez, Thomas du Toit and Joseph Dweba will all fall in if they’re required. But, for now, they go back to their clubs. The 33 players we announced at SuperSport is the list we handed in [to World Rugby].”
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THE NINE STAND-BY PLAYERS IN THE SPRINGBOKS
- Lukhanyo Am (centre)
- Lood de Jager (lock)
- Jean-Luc du Preez (utility forward)
- Thomas du Toit (prop)
- Joseph Dweba (hooker)
- Herschel Jantjies (scrumhalf)
- Pollard (flyhalf)
- Evan Roos (No 8)
- Gerhard Steenekamp (prop)
PICTURE: Pollard back in full training with English club
THE VETERAN FLYHALF HAS BEEN A KEY PERFORMER FOR SOME TIME
