It’s roughly halfway through the Test season yet sensational Springbok centre Lukhanyo Am has already been hailed as World Rugby’s Player of the Year.
No 8 Duane Vermeulen returns to the starting XV for the Springboks with prop Frans Malherbe set to earn his 50th Test cap in the Rugby Championship clash with the All Blacks on Saturday.
Assistant coach Deon Davids has confirmed that fit-again Springbok No 8 Duane Vermeulen is in contention to face the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Kurt-Lee Arendse made a big impression on his Test debut, and the Springbok flyer is determined to make the most of the offered big-stage clash with the All Blacks in Nelspruit on Saturday.
Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk admits there’s pressure on him to perform for the world champions after regaining his starting berth to face the All Blacks on Saturday.
The All Blacks are preparing to face the world champion Springboks, with coach Ian Foster under intense pressure to end their dire run of form after four defeats in their past five matches.
The Springboks received a timely boost with the inclusion of Duane Vermeulen and Frans Steyn in a 41-man squad chosen for the Rugby Championship, but the injured Cheslin Kolbe is doubtful to recover in time to feature in the tournament.
The Rugby Championship organisers have wound the clock back and adopted a mini-tour format for at least the next three years saying it will restore “rugby’s traditional touring values”.
Jean de Villiers and Jim Hamilton both concede it is inevitable that the Springboks will join the Six Nations, but raise concerns over the impact the move could have on the Test calendar and future British & Irish Lions tours.
Damian de Allende says he hopes the Springboks don’t move away from the unique challenge of playing in the Rugby Championship anytime soon amid links of a switch to the Six Nations.