With an enviable depth of talent at halfback, Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has made several decisive calls in his latest 43-man squad selection, signaling a clear shift in South Africa’s scrumhalf pecking order ahead of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (RGR) series against the All Blacks.
While Grant Williams and Cobus Reinach remain firmly entrenched as the top two choices, the battle for the supporting roles has taken an intriguing turn.
Jantjies Leapfrogs Papier and De Klerk
Following an eye-catching return to the Test arena against Wales—where he marked his first Springbok appearance in three years with a try—Herschel Jantjies has officially cracked the nod in the 43-man group.
Jantjies’ inclusion, alongside the fully recovered Morné van den Berg, comes at the expense of URC standout Embrose Papier, who has been released to the Vodacom Bulls. Meanwhile, veteran 34-year-old World Cup winner Faf de Klerk remains sidelined out of the immediate mix, leaving Jantjies well-positioned in the national setup.
“The players released to their franchises will have an opportunity to face the All Blacks in their respective midweek games,” Erasmus noted. “This will be invaluable once we decide on the final squad for the RGR series.”
Roadmap: Johannesburg Camp, Argentina, and the All Blacks Schedule
The Springbok squad enjoys a brief rest week before assembling at their Johannesburg training base on Sunday. Following a week of preparations, the team will split into operational groups before departing for Buenos Aires to take on Argentina on Saturday, 8 August.
The South American test serves as final preparation before the four-match Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand:
- 22 August: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
- 29 August: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
- 5 September: FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
- 12 September: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore (USA)
