Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has named the 34-man squad led by two-time Rugby World Cup-winning skipper Siya Kolisi for the exciting end-of-the-year United Kingdom tour.
Erasmus’ squad includes 18 forwards and 16 backs.
During the tour, the Boks will face Scotland in Edinburgh on Sunday, November 10, England in London on Saturday, November 16 and Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, November 23.
Erasmus and his boys will head to the Northern Hemisphere high in spirit after winning the Rugby Championship title for the first time since 2019.
The master tactician recalled four World Cup winners Damian Willemse, Andre Esterhuizen, RG Snyman and Franco Mostert to the squad.
The quartet missed the Rugby Championship due to injuries and they will add valuable experience and skill to the squad.
The coach couldn’t select Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Salmaan Moerat, Steven Kitshoff and Lood de Jager who are all battling injuries.
“There’s no doubt that there are several unlucky players who could easily have made the touring squad, but unfortunately we could only select 34 players,” Erasmus said.
“That said, this squad includes a healthy mix of youth and experience, with most of these players having made a strong statement in the Springbok jersey this year.
“It’s also great to have RG, Franco, Andre, and Damian back in the mix after recovering from their injuries, and we are excited to see what impact they have on the field, especially after their disappointment of missing out on the Rugby Championship,” he said.
“Damian, Andre and RG all returned to action in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship and have made a strong statement with their performances.
“And we all know what a workhorse Franco is and the quality that he adds to the team, so there’s no doubt they’ll want to make their presence felt against quality opposition in Scotland, England and Wales, who are all ranked within the top 11 sides in the world.”
Four Rugby World Cup winners return to the #Springboks squad for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour to Scotland, England and Wales - more here: https://t.co/yWX1WaNyYd 💥#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/8jFRykeunI
— Springboks (@Springboks) October 22, 2024
Having recently faced the Southern Hemisphere nations, which are New Zealand, Argentina, and Australia, South Africa anticipate a different battle in the north.
“The Castle Lager Outgoing Tour is always a tough test because it marks the end of our international season and the beginning of their season,” Erasmus said.
“That said, the November internationals always present a good challenge for us because the teams we will line up against are among the top sides in the world and they play a different brand of rugby to that which we faced in the Rugby Championship, which we enjoy because it tests us in a different way and allows us to grow as a team.
“The conditions in the northern hemisphere are also different, which is a new challenge altogether, but we are excited about the tour and to see if we can build on what has been a rewarding season for the team so far,” he added.
“We are under no illusions about the quality of the opposition we will face, and we have experienced first-hand how their home crowds lift them, much like our passionate supporters, so we know what it will take to be successful over there.
“Fortunately, we have a squad that believes in themselves and their abilities, and that will be vital as we enter these matches.
“Obviously we’ll take confidence from winning the Rugby Championship, but the reality is that’s now history, and there’s no doubt that will motivate the opposition even more to make a strong statement against us.”
