The Springboks will reportedly travel to France without the services of at least two of their 2019 World Cup winners.
Jacques Nienaber was set to announce the 33-player squad in Johannesburg on Tuesday, with a few surprises expected., flyhalf Handre Pollard and centre Lukhanyo Am are set to be left out of the squad, despite both being integral to the Springboks’ success in the Rassie Erasmus era.
Pollard has been struggling with a calf injury and has not played for the Springboks since last August, while Am twisted his knee in action against Argentina in the World Cup warm-up in Buenos Aires. Pollard’s absence would leave Manie Libbok as the only specialist flyhalf in the training squad, with Damian Willemse offering further support as the utility back.
Meanwhile, experienced lock Lood de Jager is also not expected to be included in the squad. The Springboks’ lineout commander played just over 40 minutes in the Rugby Championship match against the All Blacks in Auckland, but was withdrawn from the lineup to play in Buenos Aires due to illness, which is reportedly severe enough to rule him out of the global tournament.
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