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- A draft team of 93 players has been named to the Springbok Showdown scheduled for Newlands on October 3.
- The roster will be reduced to 50 players next week.
- 13 Springboks who participated in the Rugby World Cup, including Captain Siya Kolisi, will participate in the unique event.
SA Rugby has released the names of the players who will be part of the draft of the next Springbok Showdown scheduled for Newlands in Cape Town on October 3.
From this 93-player starting draft team, which includes 32 international Springboks, 13 of whom played at the Rugby World Cup in 2019, 50 players will be selected for the match to be part of the Green and Gold teams.
The draft team also includes several Blitzboks and Junior Boks.
The Green team will be led by Mzwandile Stick, with Rassie Erasmus as team commissioner, while Deon Davids and Jacques Nienaber will be in charge of the Gold squad.
The players, all based in South Africa, will be selected in two squads of 25 each by the team’s respective commissioners and coaches, with equal representation from all positions.
Additionally, each squad will be augmented by seven rookies, all of whom will return to their provinces the day before the game if they are not required to enter any of the squads as replacements.
Draft picks will take place live on SuperSport on Friday, September 25, and teams will meet in Cape Town on Sunday, September 27.
“We have launched the very wide network for this match, which is a very exciting prospect, as Springbok coaches we are looking forward to starting working with the players,” said Erasmus.
“To make this a meaningful exercise, the match day teams will be only 25 players, but we have decided to augment each team with all seven youngsters for various reasons.
“First of all, we have to take action in case squad members are injured or become ill and need to be replaced, in accordance with Covid-19 regulations.
“This match also provides us with a great opportunity for our younger players to rub shoulders with more experienced Springboks, especially since many of them missed Junior Springbok representation this year.”
The youngest players on the list have been a part of SA Rugby’s Elite Player Development (EPD) program in recent years, while Erasmus explained that the others were identified during Super Rugby and PRO14 earlier in the year, and the Currie Cup last year.
A total of 32 players participated in the Junior Springboks between 2016 and 2019, which Erasmus especially liked.
“Even if they don’t make the final teams, it shows that our journey from junior to senior level, as part of the EPD program, works very well and it was especially exciting to see many of these players get franchise-level opportunities in the last two. seasons, ”Erasmus said.
Several players who are currently injured were not considered for the match, including World Rugby and SA Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit, as well as RWC winner Sbu Nkosi and Aphelele Fassi, both in good standing. form for Cell C Sharks at the beginning of the year.
Erasmus added: “This preliminary list is very dynamic and we are working closely with the unions to determine the availability of the players, so it is not impossible that the names can still change before Friday, when we make the actual selections.”
Springbok Showdown Draft Team:
Accessories: Frans Malherbe *, Thomas du Toit *, Steven Kitshoff *, Trevor Nyakane *, Lizo Gqoboka ^, Ox Nche ^, Marcel van der Merwe ^, Ruan Dreyer ^, Dylan Smith, Carlu Sadie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Luan de Bruin, Sti Sithole, Nathan McBeth, Mzamo Majola, Johannes Jonker, John-Hubert Meyer.
Whores: Bongi Mbonambi *, Scarra Ntubeni ^, Dylan Richardson, Johan Grobbelaar, Schalk Erasmus, Fez Mbatha, Dan Jooste.
Locks: Jason Jenkins ^, Marvin Orie ^, Oupa Mohoje ^, JD Schickerling, Emile van Heerden, Le Roux Roets, Hyron Andrews, Ruben van Heerden, Salmaan Moerat, Sintu Manjezi, Walt Steenkamp, Reinhard Nothnagel, Ruan Vermaak, Ruben Schoeman.
Looseforwards: Siya Kolisi *, Duane Vermeulen *, Sikhumbuzo Notshe ^, Arno Botha Mar, Marco van Staden ^, Nizaam Carr Jac, Jaco Kriel ^, Ernst van Rhyn, Celimpilo Gumede, Jaco Coetzee, James Venter, Junior Pokile The Phoebe,, Vincent Tshituka , Elrigh Louw, Jeandré Rudolph, Juarno Augustus, Muller Uys, Len Massyn.
Scrumhalves: Herschel Jantjies *, Embrose Papier ^, Ivan van Zyl ^, Jaden Hendrikse, Sanele Nohamba.
Flyhalves: Elton Jantjies *, Damian Willemse *, Curwin Bosch ^, George Whitehead, Kade Wolhuter, Manie Libbok.
Centers: Frans Steyn *, Lukhanyo Am *, Burger Odendaal, Jeremy Ward, Clinton Swart, Manuel Rass, Marius Louw, Rikus Pretorius, Wandisile Simelane, Werner Kok, Dan du Plessis, Ruhan Nel.
Outer backs: Warrick Gelant *, Travis Ismaiel ^, Cornal Hendricks ^, Courtnall Skosan ^, Rabz Maxwane, Rosko Specman, Seabelo Senatla, Sergeal Petersen, Yaw Penxe, David Kriel, Gianni Lombard, Malcolm Jaer.
* denotes members of the Springbok RWC team
^ denotes top players from Springbok Test
