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The Springboks have all but finalised their squad for the Rugby World Cup. Rassie Erasmus has released eight players from his training squad while Marcell Coetzee has been ruled out of the tournament with injury. The Ulster loose forward damaged an ankle against Argentina on the weekend that will require surgical repair.
Four players were released from the group on Sunday – hooker Scarra Ntubeni, tighthead prop Wilco Louw, back row Marco van Staden, and winger Dillyn Leyds. The confirmation of Coetzee’s status on Monday accompanied the release of four others – props Lizo Gqoboka and Thomas du Toit, second row Marvin Orie, and center André Esterhuizen.
With the squad now down to just 32, one player will be unlucky when the final team is announced next Monday. The decision will lie between cutting a loose forward or one of the outside backs, with the tight five and halfbacks already confirmed by Erasmus.
Set to miss out with injury are three others who might have otherwise made the traveling squad. Former captain and No8 Warren Whiteley is still on the mend from a knee injury, while versatile flyhalf or fullback Damian Willemse has only just returned to the Currie Cup from his own knee surgery. Star winger Aphiwe Dyantyi suffered a hamstring injury last month and appears to have run out of time to prove his fitness.
The squad as it stands contains nine players based in Europe, the rest selected from South Africa’s four Super Rugby sides. There are no players from the Cheetahs or Kings of the Guinness Pro 14.
South Africa will be competing in Pool B at the World Cup, along with New Zealand, Namibia, Italy, and Canada. A detailed squad list can be seen here.
FORWARDS
Steven Kitshoff (Stormers), Vincent Koch (Saracens, UK), Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Trevor Nyakane (Bulls), Schalk Brits (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Lions), Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers), Lood de Jager (Bulls), Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), Franco Mostert (Gloucester, UK), RG Snyman (Bulls), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse, FR), Siya Kolisi (capt., Stormers), Francois Louw (Bath, UK), Kwagga Smith (Lions), Duane Vermeulen (Bulls)
BACKS
Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks, UK), Herschel Jantjies (Stormers), Cobus Reinach (Northampton Saints, UK), Elton Jantjies (Lions), Handré Pollard (Bulls), Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Damian de Allende (Stormers), Jesse Kriel (Bulls), Frans Steyn (Montpellier, FR), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse, FR), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Sibusiso Nkosi (Sharks), Warrick Gelant (Bulls), Willie le Roux (Wasps, UK)
