
[Source: Planet Rugby]
South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber has announced a Springboks squad for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has named 21 players with Rugby World Cup experience, nine of whom will be appearing at their third tournament.
Fly-half Handre Pollard (calf), Lukhanyo Am (knee) and Lood de Jager (chest) are on standby with six other players who the coaches are hopeful may return to full training before the start of the tournament.
Eleven players – Ox Nche, Jean Kleyn, Marvin Orie, Marco van Staden, Jasper Wiese, Deon Fourie, Jaden Hendrikse, Grant Williams, Manie Libbok, Andre Esterhuizen, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie – are set to make their Rugby World Cup debut.
Forwards
Prop
Steven Kitshoff (Ulster – 74 caps, 10 points)
Vincent Koch (Cell C Sharks – 45 caps, 0 points)
Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers – 61 caps, 5 points)
Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks – 19 caps, 0 points)
Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92 – 61 caps, 5 points)
Hooker
Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks – 60 caps, 60 points)
Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears – 61 caps, 75 points)
Second row
Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks – 112 caps, 25 points)
Jean Kleyn (Munster – 2 caps, 0 points)
Marvin Orie (Perpignan – 14 caps, 0 points)
RG Snyman (Munster – 26 caps, 5 points)
Flanker
Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz – 69 caps, 30 points)
Siya Kolisi (captain – Racing 92 – 75 caps, 45 points)
Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs – 33 caps, 25 points)
Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls – 12 caps, 0 points)
Duane Vermeulen (SA Rugby – 68 caps, 15 points)
Jasper Wiese (Leicester – 22 caps, 5 points)
Utility forward
Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers – 7 caps, 0 points)
Franco Mostert (Honda Heat – 65 caps, 15 points)
Backs
Scrum-half
Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles – 48 caps, 44 points)
Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks – 12 caps, 12 points)
Cobus Reinach (Montpelllier – 25 caps, 45 points)
Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks – 4 caps, 0 points)
Fly-half
Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers – 7 caps, 45 points)
Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers – 31 caps, 36 points)
Centre
Damian de Allende (Panasonic Wild Knights – 72 caps, 50 points)
Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins – 13 caps, 0 points)
Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles – 61 caps, 60 points)
Wing / full back
Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls – 10 caps, 50 points)
Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath – 25 caps, 81 points)
Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls – 86 caps, 65 points)
Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks – 38 caps, 115 points)
Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls – 6 caps, 10 points)
Defending champions South Africa are set to play Rugby World Cup pool B matches against Scotland (10 September), Romania (17 September), Ireland (23 September) and Tonga (1 October).
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