Springboks beef up squad ahead of Rugby Championship

The Springboks will enter the 2021 Rugby Championship on the right foot after cementing a 2-1 series win over the British & Irish Lions over the weekend, and will aim to keep that winning momentum throughout the championship.

Coach Jacques Nienaber and his troops will go into the championship as defending champs, having won the series in 2019 before clenching the 2019 Rugby World Cup title under Rassie Erasmus.

Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the popular annual championship contested by South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina was canned, but has been given the green light which will see teams competing over the weekend.

Nienaber and Erasmus announced their squad for the championship, which sees injured Duane Vermeulen and RG Snyman come back into the fold.

The bulk of the squad is made up of World Cup winners with a combination of B&I Lions series winners, with the inclusion of debutante Jaden Hendrikse from the Cell C Sharks.

The Springbok coaching staff has stated its confidence with the side that was announced, and believes it can defend the title.

Their first test will come on Saturday, when they host Argentina at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

The World Cup winners will enter as favourites, having won 26 and drawn one of their 30 encounters, but will be aware that Argentina can cause an upset when on form on the day.

Avid fans who have been basking in the recent series win over the Lions will hope their team does not disappoint on Saturday.

Springbok squad for Rugby Championship

Forwards: Thomas du Toit, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Wilco Louw, Frans Malherbe, Ox Nché, Trevor Nyakane, Joseph Dweba, Johan Grobbelaar, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Franco Mostert, Marvin Orie, RG Snyman, Siya Kolisi (c), Kwagga Smith, Marco van Staden, Duane Vermeulen, Jasper Wiese, Dan du Preez, Rynhardt Elstadt

Backs: Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse, Herschel Jantjies, Cobus Reinach, Elton Jantjies, Handré Pollard, Morné Steyn, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel, Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Makazole Mapimpi, Sbu Nkosi, Rosko Specman, Damian Willemse, Frans Steyn

Springbok 2021 Rugby Championship fixtures

Saturday 14 August – Argentina at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium at 5.05pm
Saturday 21 August – Argentina at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium at 5.05pm
Sunday 12 September – Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground at 7am
Saturday 18 September – Australia at Suncorp Stadium at 7am
Saturday 25 September – New Zealand at Forsyth Barr Stadium at 9.05am
Saturday 2 October – New Zealand at Eden Park at 8.05am