Don’t forget: Final World Cup squad deadline is on Monday!

Last week, the Springboks unveiled their 33-man World Cup squad, with the omissions of Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am and Lood de Jager turning out to be the big shocks due to injuries and illness.

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Following that announcement, coach Jacques Nienaber named an experienced combination for this Saturday’s World Cup warm up game against Wales as he looked to start building momentum and cohesiveness within his squad for the tournament, which kicks off in France on Friday 8 September.

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Nienaber said their squad planning is on point since their deadline for submitting their Rugby World Cup squad is on 21 August, and it has to be kept in mind that if there is a serious injury to any player this weekend, there could be changes to the original 33-man group.

“We haven’t given the squad in because it only really has to be in on 21 August, and I’m not sure if the other teams haven’t given there’s in,” Nienaber said last week.

“We are all playing warm-up games and we’ll all probably lose players. We normally lose a player or two due to injury.

“Cheslin Kolbe rolled his ankle during the 2019 World Cup and the prognosis was for him to be ready for the next game.

“It’s when a guy has an injury and is going to be out for 28 days. That’s four weeks, then a tough call will have to be made.

“If it’s at the start of the World Cup, it’s easier, but it’s harder later in the tournament. This was the hard lesson we learned at the 2011 World Cup where at some point, they only had 17 guys fit because of various niggles.”

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SPRINGBOKS RUGBY WORLD CUP SQUAD:

FORWARDS:

Props: Steven Kitshoff (Ulster – 74 caps, 10 points), Vincent Koch (Cell C Sharks – 45 caps, 0 points), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers – 61 caps, 5 points), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks – 19 caps, 0 points), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92 – 61 caps, 5 points).

Hookers: Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks – 60 caps, 60 points), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears – 61 caps, 75 points).

Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks – 112 caps, 25 points), Jean Kleyn (Munster – 2 caps, 0 points), Marvin Orie (Perpignan – 14 caps, 0 points), RG Snyman (Munster – 26 caps, 5 points).

Loose Forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz – 69 caps, 30 points), Siya Kolisi (captain – Racing 92 – 75 caps, 45 points), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs – 33 caps, 25 points), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls – 12 caps, 0 points), Duane Vermeulen (SA Rugby – 68 caps, 15 points), Jasper Wiese (Leicester – 22 caps, 5 points).

Utility Forwards: Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers – 7 caps, 0 points), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat – 65 caps, 15 points).

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BACKS:

Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles – 48 caps, 44 points), Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks – 12 caps, 12 points), Cobus Reinach (Montpelllier – 25 caps, 45 points), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks – 4 caps, 0 points).

Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers – 7 caps, 45 points), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers – 31 caps, 36 points).

Centres: Damian de Allende (Panasonic Wild Knights – 72 caps, 50 points), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins – 13 caps, 0 points), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles – 61 caps, 60 points).

Outside Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls – 9 caps, 50 points), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath – 25 caps, 81 points), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls – 86 caps, 65 points), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks – 38 caps, 115 points), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls – 6 caps, 10 points).

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