Several Bok Stars Rested As Libbok, Grobbelaar Return For Argentina Trip

Manie Libbok and Johan Grobbelaar have been recalled to the Springbok squad for the Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Santiago next weekend.

Both men, along with veteran wing Makazole Mapimpi, gained valuable game time playing for their respective provincial unions in the Currie Cup last weekend and have been included in a 28-man squad for the away clash against the Pumas.

Seven players who’ve had heavy workloads will be rested. Interestingly, captain Siya Kolisi is not among them and will tour with the squad instead of undergoing surgery on his nose, which he fractured in the 31-27 win over the All Blacks and played with in the 18-12 triumph over the Kiwis in the rematch in Cape Town last Saturday.

The players being rested are Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), Frans Malherbe (prop), Pieter-Steph du Toit (loose forward), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (flyhalf), Damian de Allende (centre), Cheslin Kolbe (wing), and Willie le Roux (fullback).

Grobbelaar and Marx are the only specialist hookers in the squad, with pop Jan-Hendrik Wessels and flank Marco van Staden set to provide cover in the role if needed. Similarly, Lukhanyo Am and Jesse Kriel are the only specialist centres in the touring party. However, flyhalf Handre Pollard and utility back Canan Moodie can both play in the midfield.

Enjoying an unbeaten Rugby Championship campaign, the back-to-back world champions lead the way on 18 points with Argentina, courtesy of their record 67-27 win over the Wallabies in Santa Fe last weekend, second on 10 points. New Zealand are third on seven and Australia fourth on four.

As a result, the Boks only need three log points from their two remaining games against the Pumas to clinch their fifth Southern Hemisphere crown and their first since 2019.

Springbok squad for Argentina tour:

Props: Thomas du Toit (Bath), Vincent Koch, Ox Nche (both Sharks), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls).

Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears).

Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (Montpellier), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls).

Loose forwards: Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).

Utility forward: Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls).

Scrumhalves: Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Sharks).

Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers).

Centres: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).

Outside backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Aphelele Fassi, Makazole Mapimpi (both Sharks).

Utility back: Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls).

Quintin van Jaarsveld

Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a former three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year. Formerly the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group, deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com, he boasts over 15 years’ experience and is currently a freelance sports writer.