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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Injury has opened the door for the Springboks to consider their halfback options on the away leg of the Rugby Championship for two Tests against Australia next month.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Veteran scrumhalf Faf de Klerk is injured and was not named by coach Rassie Erasmus in a 33-man squad for the tour. Jaden Hendrikse, the second of last year’s scrumhalves at Rugby World Cup 2023, has also been omitted due to injury.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It means that Cobus Reinach, who started the Boks’ 64-21 win against Portugal in Bloemfontein last weekend, is the most senior scrumhalf on tour. Grant Williams and Morne van den Berg, who made his Test debut against Os Lobos, are the other two scrumhalves in the group.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Siya Kolisi will captain the group.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Options</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Given the make-up of the halfback group, there are plenty of exciting combinations for Erasmus to consider, which he has no doubt already done.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Handrè Pollard has, of course, been named as one of two specialised flyhalves alongside Manie Libbok. But the inclusion of new wunderkind Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu as a “utility back” in the squad does leave Erasmus with an interesting consideration.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2287437\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/TL_2238147.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1805\" height=\"1097\" /> <em>Handrè Pollard during the Boks' match against Ireland at Kings Park in Durban on 13 July 2024. (Photo: Steve Haag Sports / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2287436\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/TL_2235123.jpg\" alt=\"Bok squad\" width=\"645\" height=\"1024\" /> <em>Handrè Pollard during the Boks' Incoming Series match against Ireland at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on 6 July 2024. (Photo: Sydney Seshibedi / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pollard started both Tests against Ireland in the recent series, which ended 1-1, and produced a mixed bag. He landed eight of eight attempts at goal in the second Test, which Ireland won 25-24, but other than a 30-minute period in the first Test, the Bok attack never fully fired.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That’s not all down to Pollard, but he is a different player to Libbok and Feinberg-Mngomezulu. He represents the steady, controlling heartbeat of the team, with an ice-cool temperament. His solid defence, experience and calm head under pressure are hugely positive attributes, which were at their most brilliant during the knockout stages at RWC 2023.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Libbok is the opposite in that he loves to move the ball, ghost into space and use his fine skills to put other players away. But he lacks Pollard’s ability to control close games with his boot and his goal-kicking remains problematic at Test level.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feinberg-Mngomezulu represents the future. Pollard was thrust into the role as a 20-year-old in 2014 and there is no reason to believe that the 22-year-old Feinberg-Mngomezulu cannot handle the pressure of being elevated to the starting role already.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He is not only incredibly talented and hard-working, with a fine all-round game, but he is one of those rare players who wants, no, demands, that he take centre stage.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been a Junior Bok captain and relishes the limelight. You can imagine him saying to Erasmus, “put me in the game coach, and I’ll win it for you”. He has that type of personality.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In combination with Williams, another electric talent, the Boks have two players with such enormous attacking potential that it is frightening to contemplate how much damage they could do if fully unleashed.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But it comes with risk, of course. Feinberg-Mngomezulu has not been tested fully yet and is still prone to the odd error. But who isn’t? Williams has added a pragmatic streak to his all-action game, improved his tactical kicking and is making better defensive reads.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Newcomer Van den Berg is also a player who has great skills while Reinach has always been an attack-minded halfback.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the pack provides the foundation we know it can and should, the “risk” of expanding on this new approach is mitigated to an extent. Trying to play more expansive rugby is easier off the front foot and with the halfbacks the Boks have chosen.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Future plans</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It will all come down to the short- and long-term strategies, and as much as Erasmus considers every option and likes to leave nothing to chance, sometimes even the best planning might have to be reconsidered.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feinberg-Mngomezulu has made a superb step up to Test rugby, with one or two touches against Ireland showing that even against the best he can be special.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2287433\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/TL_2239915.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1176\" height=\"1700\" /> <em>Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu on attack against Portugal in Bloemfontein on 20 July 2024. (Photo: Anton Geyser / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2287432\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/TL_2239843.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1733\" height=\"1156\" /> <em>Morne van den Berg warming-up before making his Test debut against Portugal. (Photo: Anton Geyser / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His little cameos in recent weeks will surely have led to some debate among the coaches, especially when weighed up against the decision to make attacking growth a priority in this World Cup cycle.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Would it be easier to make the 30-year-old Pollard veer away from his natural game and play more like Feinberg-Mngomezulu, or would it be better to let the latter take over against Australia?</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That’s not to say Pollard is not evolving his game, or that Libbok and Feinberg-Mngomezulu should not be able to tighten up their own games, but you also have to work with the raw materials at your disposal.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The other option, of course, is to deploy Feinberg-Mngomezulu at fullback, but that feels like forcing the issue. His best position is closer to the scrum where his fast feet and hands and faster brain can cause more chaos for opponents.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The halfback situation can be sliced and diced several ways and the result is never a bad one. That is the value of the depth the Boks have built and unearthed in these key positions.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Old and new</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Twenty-two of the 33 players are Rugby World Cup winners, while five 2024 debutants are included in the squad: Jan-Hendrik Wessels (utility forward), Johan Grobbelaar (hooker), Feinberg-Mngomezulu (utility back), Ben-Jason Dixon (utility forward) and Van den Berg (scrumhalf).</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The only newcomer to the group is lock Ruan Nortje, who made his Springbok debut against Wales in 2022 and represented the SA “A” side in November that year. All the other players featured in the team’s opening four Tests of the season against Wales at Twickenham or during the Incoming Series against Ireland and Portugal.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among the players not considered for selection due to injury or rehab were Jean Kleyn, Lood de Jager and Franco Mostert (all locks), Steven Kitshoff (prop), De Klerk, Hendrikse, Herschel Jantjies (scrumhalves), Canan Moodie, (centre), Edwill van der Merwe (wing) and Damian Willemse (utility back).</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jasper Wiese (No 8) is suspended, and Andre Esterhuizen (centre) awaits a disciplinary hearing after being red-carded against Portugal.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2287431\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/TL_2239831.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1747\" height=\"1099\" /> <em>Manie Libbok's attacking play against Portugal was impressive but he struggled from the kicking tee. (Photo: Charle Lombard / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2287430\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/TL_2239823.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1736\" height=\"1158\" /> <em>Cobus Reinach is now the most senior scrumhalf in the squad. (Photo: Charle Lombard / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“This is a quality group of players, which includes a mixture of youth and experience, and we believe this is the best group of players we could select for this tough assignment in the Rugby Championship,” said Erasmus. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We rested some players before the <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-07-20-plucky-portugal-outgunned-by-belligerent-boks-in-bloemfontein-in-historic-first-test/\">match against Portugal</a> to recharge for this competition and we are excited to see the energy they’ll bring back to the squad. We’ve also included a few younger players who made a strong statement in the Tests we played so far this season.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more: </b><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-07-07-boks-choose-evolution-over-stagnation/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New voices and ideas — Boks choose evolution over stagnation</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The injury to Franco Mostert opened the door for Ruan Nortje to make his comeback to the national team, and he brings a different type of experience as the captain of the Bulls.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We were very impressed with the likes of Salmaan Moerat (who became the 66th Springbok captain against Portugal), Dixon, Grobbelaar, Wessels and Feinberg-Mngomezulu when they received a chance to play this season,” said Erasmus.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“As always there are a number of unlucky players, but we could only select a squad of 33 to travel to Australia.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The players excluded from the squad will be available for selection for their respective clubs, but we explained to them before we departed Bloemfontein that this squad is not necessarily the same group that will be selected for the matches against New Zealand and Argentina.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“They have been put on specialised conditioning programmes to ensure they are ready should they get the call-up.” </span><b>DM</b>\r\n<h4><b>Bok squad for Australia tour</b></h4>\r\n<h4><b>Forwards</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ben-Jason Dixon (Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar (Bulls), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (captain, Racing 92), Elrigh Louw (Bulls), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (Stormers), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls).</span>\r\n<h4><b>Backs</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks).</span>",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Injury has opened the door for the Springboks to consider their halfback options on the away leg of the Rugby Championship for two Tests against Australia next month.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Veteran scrumhalf Faf de Klerk is injured and was not named by coach Rassie Erasmus in a 33-man squad for the tour. Jaden Hendrikse, the second of last year’s scrumhalves at Rugby World Cup 2023, has also been omitted due to injury.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It means that Cobus Reinach, who started the Boks’ 64-21 win against Portugal in Bloemfontein last weekend, is the most senior scrumhalf on tour. Grant Williams and Morne van den Berg, who made his Test debut against Os Lobos, are the other two scrumhalves in the group.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Siya Kolisi will captain the group.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Options</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Given the make-up of the halfback group, there are plenty of exciting combinations for Erasmus to consider, which he has no doubt already done.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Handrè Pollard has, of course, been named as one of two specialised flyhalves alongside Manie Libbok. But the inclusion of new wunderkind Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu as a “utility back” in the squad does leave Erasmus with an interesting consideration.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2287437\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1805\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2287437\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/TL_2238147.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1805\" height=\"1097\" /> <em>Handrè Pollard during the Boks' match against Ireland at Kings Park in Durban on 13 July 2024. (Photo: Steve Haag Sports / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2287436\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"645\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2287436\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/TL_2235123.jpg\" alt=\"Bok squad\" width=\"645\" height=\"1024\" /> <em>Handrè Pollard during the Boks' Incoming Series match against Ireland at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on 6 July 2024. (Photo: Sydney Seshibedi / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pollard started both Tests against Ireland in the recent series, which ended 1-1, and produced a mixed bag. He landed eight of eight attempts at goal in the second Test, which Ireland won 25-24, but other than a 30-minute period in the first Test, the Bok attack never fully fired.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That’s not all down to Pollard, but he is a different player to Libbok and Feinberg-Mngomezulu. He represents the steady, controlling heartbeat of the team, with an ice-cool temperament. His solid defence, experience and calm head under pressure are hugely positive attributes, which were at their most brilliant during the knockout stages at RWC 2023.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Libbok is the opposite in that he loves to move the ball, ghost into space and use his fine skills to put other players away. But he lacks Pollard’s ability to control close games with his boot and his goal-kicking remains problematic at Test level.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feinberg-Mngomezulu represents the future. Pollard was thrust into the role as a 20-year-old in 2014 and there is no reason to believe that the 22-year-old Feinberg-Mngomezulu cannot handle the pressure of being elevated to the starting role already.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He is not only incredibly talented and hard-working, with a fine all-round game, but he is one of those rare players who wants, no, demands, that he take centre stage.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been a Junior Bok captain and relishes the limelight. You can imagine him saying to Erasmus, “put me in the game coach, and I’ll win it for you”. He has that type of personality.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In combination with Williams, another electric talent, the Boks have two players with such enormous attacking potential that it is frightening to contemplate how much damage they could do if fully unleashed.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But it comes with risk, of course. Feinberg-Mngomezulu has not been tested fully yet and is still prone to the odd error. But who isn’t? Williams has added a pragmatic streak to his all-action game, improved his tactical kicking and is making better defensive reads.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Newcomer Van den Berg is also a player who has great skills while Reinach has always been an attack-minded halfback.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the pack provides the foundation we know it can and should, the “risk” of expanding on this new approach is mitigated to an extent. Trying to play more expansive rugby is easier off the front foot and with the halfbacks the Boks have chosen.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Future plans</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It will all come down to the short- and long-term strategies, and as much as Erasmus considers every option and likes to leave nothing to chance, sometimes even the best planning might have to be reconsidered.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feinberg-Mngomezulu has made a superb step up to Test rugby, with one or two touches against Ireland showing that even against the best he can be special.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2287433\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1176\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2287433\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/TL_2239915.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1176\" height=\"1700\" /> <em>Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu on attack against Portugal in Bloemfontein on 20 July 2024. (Photo: Anton Geyser / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2287432\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1733\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2287432\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/TL_2239843.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1733\" height=\"1156\" /> <em>Morne van den Berg warming-up before making his Test debut against Portugal. (Photo: Anton Geyser / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His little cameos in recent weeks will surely have led to some debate among the coaches, especially when weighed up against the decision to make attacking growth a priority in this World Cup cycle.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Would it be easier to make the 30-year-old Pollard veer away from his natural game and play more like Feinberg-Mngomezulu, or would it be better to let the latter take over against Australia?</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That’s not to say Pollard is not evolving his game, or that Libbok and Feinberg-Mngomezulu should not be able to tighten up their own games, but you also have to work with the raw materials at your disposal.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The other option, of course, is to deploy Feinberg-Mngomezulu at fullback, but that feels like forcing the issue. His best position is closer to the scrum where his fast feet and hands and faster brain can cause more chaos for opponents.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The halfback situation can be sliced and diced several ways and the result is never a bad one. That is the value of the depth the Boks have built and unearthed in these key positions.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Old and new</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Twenty-two of the 33 players are Rugby World Cup winners, while five 2024 debutants are included in the squad: Jan-Hendrik Wessels (utility forward), Johan Grobbelaar (hooker), Feinberg-Mngomezulu (utility back), Ben-Jason Dixon (utility forward) and Van den Berg (scrumhalf).</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The only newcomer to the group is lock Ruan Nortje, who made his Springbok debut against Wales in 2022 and represented the SA “A” side in November that year. All the other players featured in the team’s opening four Tests of the season against Wales at Twickenham or during the Incoming Series against Ireland and Portugal.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among the players not considered for selection due to injury or rehab were Jean Kleyn, Lood de Jager and Franco Mostert (all locks), Steven Kitshoff (prop), De Klerk, Hendrikse, Herschel Jantjies (scrumhalves), Canan Moodie, (centre), Edwill van der Merwe (wing) and Damian Willemse (utility back).</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jasper Wiese (No 8) is suspended, and Andre Esterhuizen (centre) awaits a disciplinary hearing after being red-carded against Portugal.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2287431\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1747\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2287431\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/TL_2239831.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1747\" height=\"1099\" /> <em>Manie Libbok's attacking play against Portugal was impressive but he struggled from the kicking tee. (Photo: Charle Lombard / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2287430\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1736\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2287430\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/TL_2239823.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1736\" height=\"1158\" /> <em>Cobus Reinach is now the most senior scrumhalf in the squad. (Photo: Charle Lombard / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“This is a quality group of players, which includes a mixture of youth and experience, and we believe this is the best group of players we could select for this tough assignment in the Rugby Championship,” said Erasmus. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We rested some players before the <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-07-20-plucky-portugal-outgunned-by-belligerent-boks-in-bloemfontein-in-historic-first-test/\">match against Portugal</a> to recharge for this competition and we are excited to see the energy they’ll bring back to the squad. We’ve also included a few younger players who made a strong statement in the Tests we played so far this season.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more: </b><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-07-07-boks-choose-evolution-over-stagnation/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New voices and ideas — Boks choose evolution over stagnation</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The injury to Franco Mostert opened the door for Ruan Nortje to make his comeback to the national team, and he brings a different type of experience as the captain of the Bulls.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We were very impressed with the likes of Salmaan Moerat (who became the 66th Springbok captain against Portugal), Dixon, Grobbelaar, Wessels and Feinberg-Mngomezulu when they received a chance to play this season,” said Erasmus.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“As always there are a number of unlucky players, but we could only select a squad of 33 to travel to Australia.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The players excluded from the squad will be available for selection for their respective clubs, but we explained to them before we departed Bloemfontein that this squad is not necessarily the same group that will be selected for the matches against New Zealand and Argentina.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“They have been put on specialised conditioning programmes to ensure they are ready should they get the call-up.” </span><b>DM</b>\r\n<h4><b>Bok squad for Australia tour</b></h4>\r\n<h4><b>Forwards</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ben-Jason Dixon (Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar (Bulls), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (captain, Racing 92), Elrigh Louw (Bulls), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (Stormers), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls).</span>\r\n<h4><b>Backs</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks).</span>",
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Handrè Pollard during the Boks' match against Ireland at Kings Park in Durban on 13 July 2024. (Photo: Steve Haag Sports / Gallo Images)
Handrè Pollard during the Boks' Incoming Series match against Ireland at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on 6 July 2024. (Photo: Sydney Seshibedi / Gallo Images)
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu on attack against Portugal in Bloemfontein on 20 July 2024. (Photo: Anton Geyser / Gallo Images)
Morne van den Berg warming-up before making his Test debut against Portugal. (Photo: Anton Geyser / Gallo Images)
Manie Libbok's attacking play against Portugal was impressive but he struggled from the kicking tee. (Photo: Charle Lombard / Gallo Images)
Cobus Reinach is now the most senior scrumhalf in the squad. (Photo: Charle Lombard / Gallo Images)