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Key omissions from world champion Bok alignment camp are not unusual but they hint at future

Key omissions from world champion Bok alignment camp are not unusual but they hint at future
Ntokozo Makhaza of UCT Ikeys during the FNB Varsity Cup match between FNB Maties and FNB UCT Ikeys at Danie Craven Stadium on March 17, 2025 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
Craig Ray
By Craig Ray
16 May 2025
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The omission of Stormers No 8 Evan Roos, among others, from the Springboks’ second alignment camp of 2025 does raise eyebrows.

As the Springbok Test season draws nearer the identities of the players invited to the now familiar “alignment camps” does begin to matter more.

This week Rassie Erasmus named 54 players for the latest camp starting on 22 May, which includes overseas-based players. Many of those abroad will join electronically if they can, depending on club commitments.

For the locals, there will be on-field and in-boardroom sessions as the coaching staff finalise their plans and tactics based on short-, medium- and long-term goals.

As ever with broad squads of this nature, the names of the omitted are generally more interesting than those included.

Missing out?


Time is running out before the start of the international season, which makes the personnel omitted from this group more interesting.

Even though Erasmus said earlier this year the Boks were looking at a wider group of about 80 players, it does feel like players who have missed this camp might be on the outer orbit of planet Springbok.

Stormers No 8 Evan Roos is perhaps the biggest name of the uninjured players to be sidelined.

Roos has been in excellent form for the Stormers, and if anything has tightened his game after coming back from a long-term injury. He appears to be carrying more directly and playing with better awareness of his teammates, instead of his previous all-action, freewheeling style.

Bok coach Rassie Erasmus. (Photo: Grant Pitcher / Gallo Images)



Simply, he’s playing more like a Test No 8, yet he has been omitted. So, either he’s not playing in a way Erasmus and co want, or he has fallen out for other reasons.

When you consider that three Test looseforwards in Elrigh Louw, Ben-Jason Dixon and Deon Fourie weren’t included because of injury, Roos’ exclusion is even more curious.

Erasmus has always placed a huge emphasis on a player’s mental and emotional make-up and how he fits into the team.

It has been a pillar of the Boks’ selection criteria since 2018 and something that is perhaps the most intangible of their long list of criteria.

Battles


Most aspects can be measured and tracked, but when Erasmus talks of players getting into more battles (all of rugby’s action) and putting their egos aside, it’s something that only he can fully articulate.

The Boks aren’t in the habit of explaining why players are omitted, especially when it’s pre-season and the squad is so large, so it will take some time to understand Erasmus’ thinking around this one.

Bulls hooker Johan Grobbelaar has also been left out as has Stormers hooker Andre-Hugo Venter and the Sharks’ Akker van der Merwe. Grobbelaar and Venter were capped last year, while all three were at the first Bok alignment camp in March.

Stormers hooker Joseph Dweba and Bulls flank Celimpilo Gumede have also been overlooked along with Sharks flank Phepsi Buthelezi and centre Jurenzo Julius. Those three were all part of the first alignment camp.

Instead, in comes Scarlets hooker Marnus van der Merwe, while Bulls utility front rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels looks set for more game time at hooker in 2025.

“It’s always difficult to reduce the size of the squad with the abundance of talent in South African rugby,” Erasmus said. “But we were limited in the number of players we could select for the camp, and we are confident that we have sufficient cover in all positions within this group.

“The coaches and management staff have been working around the clock to ensure that we are as prepared as possible for what will be a challenging season, and all the operational and logistical aspects are in place for everything to run as smoothly as possible, so we are excited for the season ahead.”

New faces


In a surprise this week, the addition of a semi-professional player harked back to a different era.

The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Ikey Tigers wing/fullback Ntokozo Makhaza has been included after winning the 2025 Varsity Cup Player of the Year award.

The 23-year-old Makhaza was enrolled in a Bachelor of Social Science degree in psychology and social development at UCT, but recently signed for the Free State Cheetahs for their 2025 Currie Cup campaign.

He was the leading points scorer in the 2025 Varsity Cup, with 155, while compiling a remarkable 32 points in the final against old rivals the University of Stellenbosch (Maties). The Ikeys beat Maties 44-21.

It’s a great acknowledgement for the young playmaker and a clear indication that he has caught Erasmus’ attention. It’s unlikely, but not impossible, that he will feature for the Boks this year.

Juarno Augustus of Northampton Saints. (Photo: David Rogers / Getty Images)



Ntokozo Makhaza of UCT Ikeys. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)



The inclusion of Juarno Augustus, the Northampton Saints No 8, is a clear reward for his consistency and high-quality play, not only this season, but for the past few years.

Augustus was the 2017 World Junior Player of the Year but chose to further his career in Britain, which almost certainly hurt his Springbok Test chances.

Northampton have made the 2025 Champions Cup final after a remarkable semi-final win over favourites Leinster. It was a game in which Augustus, affectionately nicknamed “Trokkie”, starred.

The Champions Cup is the best club competition on the planet and to be one of its leading players is a clear sign that Test rugby is the next logical step.

Augustus’ Saints back row teammate Henry Pollock, 20, has earned selection to the 2025 British & Irish Lions based largely on his performances in the Champions Cup.

With Jasper Wiese injured and possibly out for months (he is in the 54-man group though), finding another bruising, hard-running No 8 was a priority. In Augustus the Boks have a ready-made replacement.

Congolese-born Sharks flank Vincent Tshituka was also included in the group now that he has a South African identity document and is eligible. He is big, fast and physical, and under Erasmus and the Bok coaching staff, has a high ceiling. DM

Players invited to Springbok alignment camp in Cape Town


Forwards: Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Bongi Mbonambi,  Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ox Nché, Vincent Tshituka (all Sharks) Neethling Fouche, Salmaan Moerat (both Stormers), Cameron Hanekom, Wilco Louw, Ruan Nortje, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (all Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Renzo du Plessis (both Lions), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Backs: Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker, Grant Williams, Makazole Mapimpi (all Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Manie Libbok, Damian Willemse (all Stormers), Quan Horn, Morne van den Berg, Edwill van der Merwe (all Lions), Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie (both Bulls), Ntokozo Makhaza (Cheetahs).

Overseas-based players invited to virtual Springbok alignment camp


Forwards: Juarno Augustus (Northampton Saints), Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets).
Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Dynaboars), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Handré Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier).

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