Springbok squad to Argentina named
The Springbok squad that will be travelling to Argentina was named in Cape Town on Saturday evening, with Craig Burden coming in for the injured Bismarck du Plessis at hooker.
Du Plessis injured his right knee early in the game. He was taken for scans during the game, which confirmed the diagnosis of an injury to his medial and anterior cruciate ligaments. It will require surgical correction and he will be out for the remainder of the season.
Burden, who plays for The Sharks, was on the official standby list and will depart with the squad from Johannesburg on Sunday morning.
Apart from Du Plessis, the match day 22 that beat Argentina by 27-6 have been retained and five players were added to provide depth in certain crucial positions – Tiaan Liebenberg and Burden (hookers), Dean Greyling (prop), Juandré Kruger (lock) and Jano Vermaak (scrumhalf).
Following the Springboks’ return from Argentina, the national selectors will meet to select a touring squad of 28 that will travel to Australia and New Zealand for the third and fourth rounds of The Castle Rugby Championship.
“We only finalised the touring squad after the Test against Argentina at DHL Newlands on Saturday afternoon as we wanted to first assess the injury situation,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
“It’s never nice to leave behind players, but we’re only permitted to travel with 26 players. The players that stay behind will benefit from game time in the Absa Currie Cup and will certainly be in the selection frame when we select the squad for the next leg of The Castle Rugby Championship.”
The 26-man Springbok squad to Argentina:
Forwards (15): Willem Alberts, Andries Bekker, Craig Burden, Pat Cilliers, Marcell Coetzee, Keegan Daniel, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Dean Greyling, Juandré Kruger, Tiaan Liebenberg, Tendai Mtawarira, Jacques Potgieter, Adriaan Strauss, Flip van der Merwe.
Backs (11): Jean de Villiers (captain), JJ Engelbrecht, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Zane Kirchner, Patrick Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo, Ruan Pienaar, Frans Steyn, Morné Steyn, Jano Vermaak.
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