Springboks scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse. Photo: SA Rugby website
WATCH: Good injury news for Springboks!
There were good signs on the injury front for the Springboks as they began the first of two preparation camps this month.
Springboks scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse. Photo: SA Rugby website
The Springboks made the big switch to Test mode on Wednesday as they returned to the training field in Durban at the first of two preparation camps this month to kick into gear for the international season.
Notably, in a video posted by the Springboks, Siya Kolisi looked to be strong and mobile as he continued his recovery from a knee injury, while scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse also looked to be in good shape after undergoing shoulder surgery earlier this year.
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Eben Etzebeth is expected to be fit and ready before the World Cup as well.
Springboks coach Jacaues Nienaber commented: “We have a small group of players at this camp, but this affords us the luxury of giving them special attention. As we said at our first training camp in February, every minute with the players is crucial for us to get our structures and systems in place to ensure that we peak at the right time during the World Cup.
“We’ll have a bigger group of players at the next camp and at our Rugby Championship training camp in June, but this week will assist us greatly in putting the groundwork in place.
“Having a few injured players here such as Siya (Kolisi) and Eben (Etzebeth) is also a bonus, as they’ll participate in all our team meetings, while our medical team have already started working with them.”
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You can see the Springboks video below or by clicking here
VIDEO: Siya Kolisi looking strong on ‘day 17’ of recovery
Players invited to Springboks camps (in alphabetical order)
Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Jaden Hendrikse, Siya Kolisi (all Cell C Sharks), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz), Makazole Mapimpi, Bongi Mbonambi (both Cell C Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks).
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2023 fixtures:
Rugby Championship:
Saturday, 8 July – Boks vs Australia (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday, 15 July – Boks vs New Zealand (Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland)
Saturday, 29 July – Boks vs Argentina (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
RWC warm-up fixtures:
Saturday, 5 August – Boks v Argentina (Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires)
Saturday, 19 August – Boks vs Wales (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Friday, 25 August – Boks vs New Zealand (Twickenham, London)
RWC fixtures:
Sunday, 10 September – Boks v Scotland (Stade Marseille, Marseille)
Sunday, 17 September – Boks v Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
Saturday, 23 September – Boks v Ireland (Stade de France, Paris)
Sunday, 1 October – Boks v Tonga (Stade Marseille, Marseille)
Weekend of 14/15 October – Quarter-finals
Weekend of 21/22 October – Semi-finals
Saturday, 28 October – Final
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