Springboks selection: How to accommodate Lukhanyo Am?
The Springboks face a big selection decision over whether to slot Lukhanyo Am straight back into the team or continue with Jesse Kriel.
On Monday it was confirmed that Lukhanyo Am, a member of the Springboks’ 2019 Rugby World Cup winning team, has been called into the 2023 squad as an injury replacement for wing Makazole Mapimpi.
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Lukhanyo Am joined the squad in Toulon this week, having returned to training on his rehabilitation from a knee injury suffered in the 24-13 victory win over Argentina in Buenos Aires on 5 August.
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WHERE DOES LUKHANYO AM FIT IN?
However, it remains to be seen whether Am is really fit enough to be considered for selection in the starting line-up, particularly considering he hasn’t played all that much Test rugby over the last 18 months.
In fairness, Jesse Kriel has also fared more than capably in the absence of Am, and it would be a massive call to now make a change at 13.
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Perhaps Lukhanyo Am will be accommodated on the bench, but again this would probably mean the Springboks have to go the five-three route.
It’s a tricky selection decision that has to be made, with Am perhaps most likely to be accommodated among the ‘bomb squad’ for an expected quarter-final against France.
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AM IN, MAPIMPI OUT
Erasmus added that the Boks would miss Mapimpi, even though he had been surpassed by other wingers in the squad.
“We will not just miss him as a brilliant rugby player but what he brings to the team. There is a lot of heart, a lot of honesty. He doesn’t say a lot but when he says something everybody listens. He trains hard, communicates beautifully on the field while he is really quiet off the field. He never moans if he is not selected and helps the young boys who get selected.”
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Erasmus added that if the Boks got to the World Cup final they would fly him back to France to rejoin the team along with Malcolm Marx, who was ruled out earlier in the tournament.
“If we get to the final we will definitely fly him back to join the rest of us here. The same with the other guys who got injuries and went back to South Africa. It’s sad but that’s the game of rugby. Those collisions happen,” Erasmus added.
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