WATCH Fans Announce Springbok Rugby World Cup Squad 2019
The names of the 31 Springboks who will carry the hopes and dreams of around 60 million South Africans with them onto the field in Japan next month, for the Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2019, were announced today. (See full Springbok team at bottom of page.) The Springbok squad was unveiled by various broadcasters around […]
The names of the 31 Springboks who will carry the hopes and dreams of around 60 million South Africans with them onto the field in Japan next month, for the Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2019, were announced today. (See full Springbok team at bottom of page.)
The Springbok squad was unveiled by various broadcasters around the country, with the SuperSport team in Johannesburg producing an extra special video that features Bok supporters from around the country – celebrities and non-celebrities – helping announce each player. Watch here:
WATCH VIDEO: Springbok Rugby World Cup squad announcement:
https://www.facebook.com/supersport/videos/476251439885248/
Three players will be attending their third Rugby World Cup – Frans Steyn, Tendai Mtawarira and Francois Louw – while a further 12 players will get their second taste of a Rugby World Cup.
There are five players with more than 50 caps – Eben Etzebeth, Willie le Roux, Louw, Steyn and Mtawarira – the latter being the most experienced played in the squad with 110 caps. These players will provide a spine of experience.
“I am very happy with the squad we have been able to select” said Rassie Erasmus, Director of Rugby at SA Rugby.
“We have been developing this squad since the start of last season and in the 31 we have a good balance of established experience and some exciting youth.
The Springboks leave for Japan on Friday.
South Africa opens their Rugby World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Yokohama on Saturday, 21 September before further Pool B matches against Namibia (28 September), Italy (4 October) and Canada (8 October).
It will be the first time the Springboks have met Namibia since 2011 and the first meeting with Canada since 2000. The Springboks have beaten Italy 13 times in 14 meetings and, after a long period of New Zealand dominance have restored some balance in the past four meetings – none of which was decided by more than two points.
The top two teams from the Springboks’ pool will face quarter-finals against the top two teams from Pool A featuring Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Russia and Samoa.
The Springboks will play a final warm-up match against Japan on Friday, 6 September in Kumagaya.
“I’m sure I speak for the squad when I say we can’t wait for the games to begin,” said Erasmus.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus and captain Siya Kolisi address the media, South Africa’s 2019 Rugby World Cup squad:
The Springbok squad is (in alphabetical order):
Those with a * next to their name are making their Rugby World Cup debut.
- *Lukhanyo Am – Centre
- Schalk Brits – Hooker
- Damian de Allende – Centre
- Lood de Jager – Lock
- *Faf de Klerk – Scrumhalf
- Pieter-Steph du Toit – Looseforward
- Eben Etzebeth – Lock
- *Warrick Gelant – Fullback
- *Elton Jantjies – Flyhalf
- *Herschel Jantjies – Scrumhalf
- *Steven Kitshoff – Prop
- *Vincent Koch – Prop
- *Cheslin Kolbe – Wing
- Siya Kolisi (captain) – Looseforward
- Jesse Kriel – Centre
- Willie le Roux – Fullback
- Francois Louw – Looseforward
- Frans Malherbe – Prop
- *Makazole Mapimpi – Wing
- *Malcolm Marx – Hooker
- *Bongi Mbonambi – Hooker
- *Franco Mostert – Lock
- Tendai Mtawarira – Prop
- *Sbu Nkosi – Wing
- Trevor Nyakane – Prop
- Handré Pollard – Flyhalf
- *Cobus Reinach – Scrumhalf
- *Kwagga Smith – Looseforward
- *RG Snyman – Lock
- Frans Steyn – Utility back
- Duane Vermeulen – Looseforward
Sources: SuperSport, SARugby