Rassie Erasmus names 43-man Springboks squad for All Blacks series

Thursday, 23 July 2026

After Ruben Love’s latest performance, Aotearoa Rugby Pod asks whether it’s time to stop talking about him as a potential All Blacks first five and start recognising him as the real deal.

Ten players have been recalled following injuries in a wider Springboks squad selected ahead of upcoming international matches against the All Blacks and Argentina.

Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Franco Mostert, Siya Kolisi, Handre Pollard, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Canan Moodie, Ethan Hooker, Andre Esterhuizen and Morne van den Berg have all been recalled following spells on the sidelines.

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus named a 43-man group to assemble in Johannesburg on Sunday to begin preparations for the test against Argentina in Buenos Aires on August 9, as well as the four-match Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks. The squad will train for a week before the travelling group departs for Argentina in two cohorts.

Erasmus has split the wider squad, allowing several recovering players to remain behind in Johannesburg with management and medical staff to prepare specifically for the New Zealand series.

Five players have also been released to their respective domestic franchises to play in midweek matches against the All Blacks: prop Ntuthuko Mchunu, No 8 Evan Roos and hooker Andre-Hugo Venter to the Stormers; winger Jaco Williams to the Sharks; and halfback Embrose Papier to the Bulls.

Lock Ruben van Heerden, who made his test debut against Wales, is the only player omitted from the two groups following a club move to Montpellier. He remains on standby.

Springboks squad

Props: Thomas du Toit, Wilco Louw, Ox Nche, Zachary Porthen, Carlu Sadie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Boan Venter.

Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar, Malcolm Marx.

Locks: Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Ruan Nortje.

Loose forwards: Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Cameron Hanekom, Siya Kolisi, Elrigh Louw, Jasper Wiese.

Utility forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit, Franco Mostert, Vincent Tshituka, Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese.

Halfbacks: Herschel Jantjies, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg, Grant Williams.

First five-eighths: Manie Libbok, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Vusi Moyo, Handre Pollard.

Centres: Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Jesse Kriel.

Outside backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Aphelele Fassi, Ethan Hooker, Quan Horn, Cheslin Kolbe, Canan Moodie, Edwill van der Merwe, Damian Willemse.