Faf de Klerk and Herschel Jantjies will be available for selection for the Tests against Australia and New Zealand, it was confirmed on Monday.
In some good news, reports suggest that Sanzaar has reached an agreement that will have the Springboks, All Blacks and Argentina based in Queensland for their remaining Rugby Championship fixtures.
Although there has yet to be an official announcement, it appears that special dispensation has been granted for the competition to continue on Australia’s northeast coast after Covid-19 concerns had thrown the Rugby Championship into doubt last week.
The Boks and Argentina were originally set to travel to Perth, and although it does appear this is where next weekend’s third Bledisloe Test will take place, the Rugby Championship will then instead shift to Queensland.
The Springboks are currently enjoying some time off for the next few days to freshen up mentally and physically following a jam-packed schedule in the last two-and-a-half months. They were set to remain in Nelson Mandela Bay until Sanzaar announces where the remaining Rugby Championship fixtures will be hosted.
Scrumhalf Grant Williams will be joining the Springbok squad as scrumhalf cover for the next stage of the tournament, following the withdrawal of Jaden Hendrikse due to a leg fracture.
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Williams, who has made a strong statement on the field for the Sharks, joins Faf de Klerk, Herschel Jantjies and Cobus Reinach as the scrumhalves in the squad.
De Klerk and Jantjies were both on the injury list over the past two weeks but are on track recovering from a leg strain and hip-pointer niggle, respectively, and will be available for selection for the Tests against Australia and New Zealand.
“It is sad to lose a player like Jaden who was really beginning to find his feet in the system and starting to make his mark in Test rugby, but unfortunately injuries are part of the game,” said Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber.
“We are lucky to have a handful of talented scrumhalves in the country, and as coaches we have been impressed with Grant’s form this season.
“He will certainly benefit from being in the squad and being exposed to our structures and systems, and we are looking forward to seeing what he has to offer.”
The Springboks are scheduled to face Australia on 12 and 18 September, before back-to-back fixtures against the All Blacks.
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