Manie Libbok looks set to begin the 2024 Test season in the Springbok No 10 jersey.

Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that Europe-based players will not be available for the opening Test of the year against Wales at Twickenham on 22 June.

The match will mark a repeat of the Boks’ 2015 Rugby World Cup quarter-final at Twickenham, which South Africa won 23-19.

The London Test will be followed by a challenging two-match series against Ireland in Pretoria (6 July) and Durban (13 July), and South Africa’s first Test against Portugal a week later in Bloemfontein in the closing match of the incoming series.

However, the Test at Twickenham falls outside the official Test window, which only opens in July, so the Boks will be unable to call up their European-based stars.

This means that Leicester-based Handre Pollard, who kicked the Springboks to World Cup glory in France, and Paris-based Siya Kolisi are among those who won’t be available to face the Dragons.

This is likely to open the door for Libbok to wear the No 10 jersey, dependant on the DHL Stormers’ progress in the URC – the final falls on the same day as the Twickenham Test.

Bok coach Erasmus said that the team that faces Wales will mostly be drawn from domestic players and those based in Japan.

“We can’t really say that the Welsh Test is preparation for the series against Ireland,” Erasmus said. “The Welsh Test is outside the window. So those 43 men that were here for the alignment camp, the team will be selected from them, plus a few Japan-based players.

“There will be no players from England or France. We’re not sure where we are currently with players in Ireland, where [Steven] Kitshoff is playing for Ulster and RG [Snyman] for Munster. There are also URC games that will be played.

“It is almost a standalone Test match. Some of the guys who play at Twickenham won’t play in the Ireland Test match.

“I wouldn’t be calling it a warm-up. It’s a big Test against a Wales team trying to fire and get a spark. They have some young guns who are close to producing magic so they will be tough.”

Photo: Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images

The post Rassie to start with Manie at 10? appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Src: sarugbymag.co.za