Am returns to 39-man Springbok squad for Ireland Test but injury rules out Moodie

Centre Lukhanyo Am is back in Springbok contention having missed the last 10 Tests through injury in a boost for the Springbok midfield depth, especially as Canan Moodie has been ruled out.

Moodie is one of several injured players not considered for the 39-man squad for the two-Test series against Ireland starting at Loftus Versfeld on 6 July.

Am last played a Test in the Boks’ 24-13 win over Argentina in Buenos Aires last August where he suffered a serious injury that ruled him out of initial selection to Rugby World Cup 2023.

Although Am was recalled to the Bok RWC 2023 squad as a replacement for Makazole Mapimpi, he did not play in the French showpiece.

The addition of nine players, who were not available for last week’s 41-13 win over Wales at Twickenham, and four news caps, has swelled the ranks of the team.

Bulls hooker Johan Grobbelaar has been added with Stormers hooker Joseph Dweba falling out, while Bulls teammate Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who can play prop and hooker, has been selected.

Sharks flank Phepsi Buthelezi and Lions scrumhalf Morne van den Berg are the other uncapped players in the squad.

Handre Pollard (flyhalf) and Jasper Wiese, who trained with the team but were ineligible for selection due to the Wales Test falling outside of the international window, have also been named in the squad.

Wiese is still suspended after receiving a six-ban for a dangerous tackle while playing for Leicester. He will miss the Ireland series.

Siya Kolisi is back in the Bok squad but coach Rassie Erasmus is yet to name a skipper for the season. (Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images)

RWC winners

Erasmus also called up Rugby World Cup winners Siya Kolisi — the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup-winning captain and RG Snyman (lock), who both joined the squad in London following their club commitments.

The Bulls trio of Marco van Staden (flank), Kurt-Lee Arendse (utility back) and Willie le Roux (fullback), have been included following the United Rugby Championship final against the Glasgow Warriors last Saturday.

Wing Edwill van der Merwe has been rewarded for his excellent debut against Wales with selection. The Stormers duo of flank Ben-Jason Dixon and utility back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who also made their debuts against Wales, were included.

The 39-man squad features 22 forwards and 17 backline players, with Erasmus set to name the captain for the competition closer to the Ireland Test.

Erasmus, however, declared that three players, scrumhalf Faf de Klerk (quadriceps), Van der Merwe (shoulder) and Mapimpi (hamstring) had picked up niggles in the Wales Test – but he was satisfied that there was enough cover in the squad with Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe and Am available for selection.

Malcolm Marx has cracked the nod for the upcoming series after returning to Test rugby last week after a bad knee injury. (Photo: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Standby squad

Erasmus also named 1o players on standby to cover for injuries and to add depth to training sessions.

They are: Jean-Luc du Preez (loose forward), Dweba (hooker), Jordan Hendrikse (flyhalf), Elrigh Louw (No 8), Wilco Louw, Nuthuko Mchunu (both props), with six of the players — Neethling Fouche (prop), Mchunu, Andre-Hugo Venter (hooker), Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker (utility back) and Quan Horn (fullback) — being members of the Bok travelling squad that faced Wales.

“We named the best squad available for the Incoming Series, and with squad depth being one of our key pillars as we build toward to the 2027 Rugby World Cup,” Erasmus said.

“For the Test against Portugal, we thought it would be beneficial to us to name a standby squad with a few players who will join us at training sporadically in the next few weeks.

“Unfortunately, a handful of players are carrying injuries and were ruled out of the selection mix, but our plan to build depth in the last few years and expose players to Test rugby in the build-up to RWC 2023 and against Wales last weekend certainly paid off.

“It’s great to have the overseas-based and Bulls players back in the mix and with many of them being Rugby World Cup winners, they will bring experience and calm heads to the team,” said Erasmus.

“Over and above that, some of the young players who were part of our travelling squad to London really impressed us over the last two weeks, and while some of them have been included in this group, we were limited in terms of the number of players we could pick, so there will always be a few unlucky players.”

Willie Le Roux will feature for the Boks in the upcoming series. (Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

New blood

Erasmus welcomed the uncapped players to the initial squad of 39 — Grobbelaar and Wessels, as well as those in the standby squad — and he hoped they would grab the opportunity with both hands.

“Johan and Jan-Hendrik really impressed us at the alignment camps we hosted in the year, and they are talented players with a bright future, so we are keen to see what they can do and the dynamic they add to the team,” said Erasmus. “They are skilful players with immense talent and their selection will offer them a great opportunity to make their mark.

“Jan-Hendrik is equally efficient at prop and hooker, which increases our front-row options and hopefully with their talent and drive, they will add great value to the squad.

“We also saw what the uncapped players in the travelling squad for the Wales Test have to offer and we have no doubt that if they receive an opportunity to run out in the green and gold this season, they will give their best and wear the badge with pride.” DM

Springbok squad for Incoming Series:

Forwards (22)

Phepsi Buthelezi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Racing 92), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92/Sharks), Evan Roos (Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Blu Revs), RG Snyman (Munster/Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers)

Backs (17)

Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins/Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions), Edwill van der Merwe (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks).

Players on standby:

Forwards: Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Joseph Dweba, Neethling Fouche (Stormers), Celimpilo Gumede, Elrigh Louw, Wilco Louw (all Bulls), Ntuthuko Mchunu (Sharks), Ruben van Heerden (Stormers), Andre-Hugo Venter (Stormers).

Backs: Suleiman Hartzenberg (Stormers), Jordan Hendrikse (Lions), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Quan Horn  (Lions), Siya Masuku (Sharks)