Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has called up hooker Johan Grobbelaar to join South Africa’s 28-man squad for their upcoming short tour to Argentina. The Springboks will face Los Pumas at the Estadio Unico Madre Ciudades in Santiago on Saturday, 21 September, in their second-last game of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
Erasmus has opted to rest seven key players who have had a heavy workload over recent months. This decision is partly with an eye on the final match of the tournament against Argentina, scheduled for Saturday, 28 September, in Nelspruit.
Grobbelaar re-enters the squad after participating in the Australian leg of the competition, during which the Springboks secured a full set of points. He will join Malcolm Marx and Jan-Hendrik Wessels as the team’s hooker options, with Wessels also capable of playing at prop.
The seven players who will sit out the Argentina tour include hooker Bongi Mbonambi, prop Frans Malherbe, loose forward Pieter-Steph du Toit, flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, centre Damian de Allende, wing Cheslin Kolbe, and fullback Willie le Roux. These players will follow a specialised training program to maintain their fitness and be ready to rejoin the team in Mpumalanga upon their return.
At the moment, South Africa leads the Castle Lager Rugby Championship standings with 18 points, having won all four of their matches so far. Argentina is in second place with 10 points, followed by New Zealand with seven points, and Australia with four. South Africa only needs three more points from their two remaining matches to secure their first championship title since 2019.
Achieving this would crown an impressive tournament for the Springboks, who have already claimed both the Mandela Challenge Plate by defeating Australia and the Freedom Cup by overcoming New Zealand.
Erasmus explained the team’s strategy, emphasizing that they have been transparent about their desire to give as many players as possible a chance to compete against top international teams. He said that facing Argentina in Santiago, in what they expect to be a challenging match in front of a passionate crowd, would be an excellent test for this squad.
The decision to rest certain players was also made with their long-term welfare in mind, giving them time to recover after a taxing season. According to Erasmus, all of the players in the current 28-man squad have been involved this year and have proven their value, so this match is an opportunity for them to perform in Argentina.
The coach also highlighted the threat posed by Argentina, who delivered a commanding 67-27 win over Australia in Santa Fe the previous week. This showed how dangerous Argentina can be at home, and Erasmus believes it will be a tough challenge, which is crucial as South Africa builds towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Erasmus named just two specialist hookers for the tour, Grobbelaar and Marx, but noted that Wessels and Marco van Staden could cover the position if needed. Canan Moodie, who has played in the midfield before, can also cover centre, wing, and fullback.
The tour to Argentina is a short one, and Erasmus is confident that the squad has sufficient cover in all positions. He pointed out that several players, including Johan Grobbelaar, Manie Libbok, Jaden Hendrikse, and Canan Moodie, stand to benefit from more playing time at this level. He also commended players like Aphelele Fassi and Ben-Jason Dixon, who have made the most of their opportunities this season and are eager to see them perform again.
With the Springboks in a strong position to win the Rugby Championship, Erasmus emphasized that their primary goal is to win the match in Argentina. However, he is aware of the challenge, noting that it will take a tremendous effort to beat Argentina at home. He expressed full confidence in the team’s depth, believing that the squad has a good mix of youth and experience. This will serve them well in Argentina and beyond, as they continue to develop a group capable of competing at the highest level.
The squad will assemble in Stellenbosch on Wednesday afternoon to start preparations for the Argentina tour, and they are set to depart for Argentina on Saturday.
**Springbok squad for the Argentina tour:**
– **Props:** Thomas du Toit (Bath), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls).
– **Hookers:** Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears).
– **Locks:** Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (Montpellier), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls).
– **Loose forwards:** Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers), Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
– **Utility forward:** Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls).
– **Scrumhalves:** Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
– **Flyhalves:** Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers).
– **Centres:** Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).
– **Outside backs:** Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
– **Utility back:** Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls).
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