Garth April – a Bok star in the making?
The selection of Garth April was as surprising as any in Allister Coetzee’s first Springbok squad.
The selection of Garth April was as surprising as any in Allister Coetzee’s first Springbok squad.
Elton Jantjies faces a race against time to be fit for the home series against Ireland next month after it was confirmed he would have surgery on an injured hand.
Rassie Erasmus, SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby, offered no excuses for the Springboks’ narrow 22-20 loss against Wales in difficult conditions in Washington DC on Saturday evening.
Springbok coach Allister Coetzee praised his team for getting the job done by beating Italy 35-6 in very difficult conditions in Padova on Saturday.
Only one player has been dropped from the team that played against Australia – the 95-cap veteran Beast Mtawarira – for the game against the All Blacks.
Franco Mostert and Jean-Luc du Preez are back in the Springbok starting team for Saturday’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash against the All Blacks.
If there’s one player who is able to bury a bad performance and raise his game, it’s flyhalf Elton Jantjies, who has bounced back from indifferent performances.
You’d expect the Bok side to be loaded with Lions players. However just seven Lions players made the cut. Warren Whiteley is injured and Ruan Dreyer, Ruan Combrinck, Rohan Janse van Rensburg and Faf de Klerk – all previous Springboks – are out of favour.
Sean Fitzpatrick spoke exclusively to Sport24 about Saturday’s Super Rugby final between the Lions and the Crusaders at Ellis Park, as well as the row over referee Jaco Peyper’s appointment.
The Springboks finally buried their Ellis Park bogey against the French with their first-ever victory against the Tricolors in Johannesburg.