Faf de Klerk joins Springboks as Rassie Erasmus delays team announcement for All Blacks

Stalwart scrumhalf Faf de Klerk will join the Springboks in New Zealand for the second leg of their Rugby Championship campaign against the All Blacks, where they will play matches in Auckland and Wellington, as additional cover in the key position.

Coach Rassie Erasmus has opted to call up a scrumhalf following the late unavailability of hooker Bongi Mbonambi, who remained behind in South Africa earlier this week to attend to an urgent family matter.

De Klerk’s addition to the squad increases the size of the group in Auckland to 36 players.

Malcolm Marx will be the starting hooker, with back-up in the form of Marnus van der Merwe and the versatile Jan-Hendrik Wessels.

The Springboks will face their arch-rivals at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday, before travelling to Wellington for their second match on the tour at the Sky Stadium on Saturday, September 13.

Siya Kolisi and Willie le Roux remain injury doubts for this week’s clash, with Marco van Staden and Damian Willemse likely to replace them.

Erasmus is certain to put his policy of rotation on hold for the epic encounter at Eden Park and pick his best matchday 23, which will not differ majorly from the group that recently beat the Wallabies 30–22 in Cape Town.

In that game, Erasmus used Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager off the bench, but they are likely to return to the starting lineup. Veteran Makazole Mapimpi is set to replace Canan Moodie on the left wing; Handré Pollard will retain the flyhalf jersey; Jean-Luc du Preez will get his chance at No 8 after illness robbed him of his opportunity against Australia, with Kwagga Smith reverting to the bench.

In another tweak, expect Wilco Louw to start at tighthead prop ahead of Thomas du Toit, while Ox Nche will start at loosehead.

Erasmus, who normally names his team early in the week, will only announce his selection on Thursday for the massive clash at Eden Park.

Springbok squad for the Rugby Championship Tests against New Zealand

Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux-Bègles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks)

Backs: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles),André Esterhuizen (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Handré Pollard (Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers).