Veteran finisher Makazole Mapimpi is the shock omission from SA Rugby magazine’s 33-man squad chosen in anticipation of the announcement of the Springbok squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The official Springbok squad is set to be revealed on Tuesday afternoon as the world champions prepare to open the tournament against Scotland in Marseille on Sunday, 10 September.
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After plenty of debate, the SA Rugby magazine team came to a consensus on which players they would choose to mount South Africa’s title-defence.
The team opted for a 19-14 split between forwards and backs.
Among the forwards, six props were chosen, including Stormers duo Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe, the Sharks’ Ox Nche and Vincent Koch, as well as Trevor Nyakane and Thomas du Toit. There was some dissent, with senior writer Dylan Jack opting to select five props and put Du Toit on standby, in order to pick an extra loose forward.
The team opted to take three out-and-out hookers, with Joseph Dweba serving as backup to Bongi Mbonambi and Malcolm Marx. This means that utility forward Deon Fourie was left out of the squad, despite writer Devin Hermanus arguing for Fourie’s inclusion with Dweba placed on standby.
For the most part, there was consensus among the locks, with Lood de Jager and Eben Etzebeth joined by RG Snyman and Jean Kleyn. However, editor Zelim Nel placed Kleyn on standby and went with three locks, with Pieter-Steph du Toit and Franco Mostert providing cover at the position.
HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW!
Unsurprisingly, given the depth in the back row, there was heavy debate over the make up of the loose forwards and utility forward.
Siya Kolisi’s lack of game time due to injury saw his position come into question, with Marco van Staden touted as a potential openside replacement, but the Bok skipper was ultimately named in the squad.
A case was also made for including No 8 Evan Roos with Fourie as the utility forward, but that role went to Mostert.
The backline was relatively more straightforward.
Faf de Klerk, Cobus Reinach and Jaden Hendrikse complete the scrumhalf room, though there was a push to include Grant Williams in Reinach’s place.
Handre Pollard and Manie Libbok man the flyhalf position, despite the former being left out of one of one writer’s squad due to his long absence through injury.
Centre was the one position where there was complete consensus from all writers, with Andre Esterhuizen and Jesse Kriel joining regulars Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am.
The big talking point is in the outside backs, where Mapimpi was left out for five-Test flyer Canan Moodie, who joins Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse, with Damian Willemse serving as the utility back.
SA Rugby mag’s Bok squad:
Forwards (19)
Props (6): Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane, Vincent Koch, Thomas du Toit
Hookers (3): Bongi Mbonambi, Malcolm Marx, Joseph Dweba
Locks (4): Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, RG Snyman, Jean Kleyn
Loose forwards (5): Siya Kolisi, Duane Vermeulen, Kwagga Smith, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit.
Utility forward (1): Franco Mostert.
Backs (14):
Scrumhalves (3): Faf de Klerk, Cobus Reinach, Jaden Hendrikse
Flyhalves (2): Handre Pollard, Manie Libbok
Centres (4): Damian de Allende, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Jesse Kriel
Outside backs (4): Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie
Utility back (1): Damian Willemse
Photo: TOM SANDBERG/PPAUK/Shutterstock/BackpagePix
