Lukhanyo Am and Handre Pollard in action during a Springboks vs. Argentina Rugby Championship game. Photo: Michael Sheehan / AFP

Details: The only way Pollard, Am and Co. can join World Cup squad

There will be no changes to the Springboks’ original World Cup squad unless there is a dramatic turn of events.

by Craig Lewis

22-08-2023 14:52

in Rugby World Cup 2023

Lukhanyo Am and Handre Pollard in action during a Springboks vs. Argentina Rugby Championship game. Photo: Michael Sheehan / AFP

The deadline for submitting Rugby World Cup squads was this past Monday, and the Springboks have confirmed that the originally named 33 players have been handed in to World Rugby.

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Although there have been plenty of rumours and conspiracy theories around whether the Springboks could belatedly have a plan to call up the likes of Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am or Lood de Jager, the fact of the matter is that these players – and others on the standby list – will remain out of the picture unless there are injuries to the existing squad.

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The nine stand-by players will be returning to their clubs after this Friday’s Test against the All Blacks, and will only feature at the World Cup if there is a legitimate reason that sees the Springboks ‘lose’ a member of the 33-man group due to an injury.

“Handre and co are part of the stand-by players, the ‘ready-to-play’ squad so to speak. They’re currently still in camp with us, but after the New Zealand Test they leave for their clubs,” Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber reiterated.

“After this weekend’s game, if there are no injuries, they’ll leave the squad. I’m not even sure if Lukhanyo is truly in the selection frame anyway. He hasn’t even trained with us. He’s still in the process of returning to training.

“If there’s an injury, we would change the composition, but there are no injuries currently. If it does, then obviously we’ll change things. The World Cup final, for example, is still 10 weeks away. Things can change.

“If there’s any injuries, we can still even see a guy like Lood coming back in. Any of the ready-to-play guys are in the frame. Jean-Luc du Preez, Thomas du Toit and Joseph Dweba will all fall in if they’re required. But, for now, they go back to their clubs. The 33 players we announced at SuperSport is the list we handed in [to World Rugby on Monday].”

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