The Springboks have confirmed the latest forced change ahead of their exciting tour of the United Kingdom.
The world champions are set to battle Scotland in Edinburgh, England in London and Wales in Cardiff all in November.
Boks confirmed that experienced prop Frans Malherbe remained in South Africa after he suffered an ankle injury during the Stormers’ United Rugby Championship against the Glasgow Warriors in Stellenbosch on Saturday.
The prop has been replaced with a flyhalf, Jordan Hendrikse from the Hollywoodbets Sharks.
Hendrikse joins his older brother, Jaden, also a Sharks scrumhalf, in the Boks squad.
Boks coach Rassie Erasmus said they decided to replace a prop with a flyhalf because the squad has enough depth in the forwards.
“Jordan has been playing very well for the Hollywoodbets Sharks in the Vodacom URC and he’s a capped Springbok, so he is familiar with our structures,” said Erasmus.
“This will also serve as a great opportunity for him to get further exposure at the international level and in the Springbok set-up itself. We also have good depth among the forwards, so we opted to call up Jordan to add further depth among the backs.
“He’s a talented player, and he’s been growing in the role at his union as we saw with his late penalty goal to earn the Hollywoodbets Sharks the Carling Currie Cup title earlier this season, and through his recent performances in the Vodacom URC, so we are excited to see what he can add to the squad.”
The young pivot debuted for the national team when he started in the Test against Wales in London in June.
The recent change follows other two forced changes that Boks have had to make as Johan Grobbelaar (hooker) and Cameron Hanekom (loose forward) were also called up after the withdrawal of Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Damian Willemse after being ruled out with ankle and groin injuries, respectively.
Boks’ first match on tour against Scotland is on Sunday, November 10.
They will follow with a trip to London to play England on Saturday, November 16 and wrap it up with a clash against Wales on Saturday, November 23.
Jordan Hendrikse has been called up after a third member of the #Springboks tour squad has been ruled out due to injury - more here: https://t.co/R9aqbHo7Wx 👊#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/dIIEgBkPRM
— Springboks (@Springboks) October 29, 2024
Updated Springbok squad for the UK Tour:
Props: Thomas du Toit (Bath), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls).
Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), RG Snyman (Leinster).
Loose forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Scrumhalves: Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Flyhalves: Jordan Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers).
Centres: Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).
Outside backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls).
