Rassie Erasmus has provided a detailed injury update on the Springboks squad ahead of the start of the international season.
The Springboks squad gathered in Johannesburg this week to begin preparations for the 2025 season with Erasmus naming a 55-man strong team ahead of the opening game against the Barbarians.
Springboks injuries
Players featuring in the Premiership and United Rugby Championship finals did not attend the first few days of training, while others have yet to be released from their clubs.
The Boks boss used 50 players in total last year and plans to rotate once again this year as South Africa aims to defend their Rugby Championship title and continue their preparations for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
However, Erasmus has confirmed that five players are unlikely to pull on a Green and Gold jumper in 2025.
Props Trevor Nyakane and Frans Malherbe were on that list along with loose forwards Deon Fourie, Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom.
One-cap back-rower Hanekom sustained his injury in the URC semi-final against the Sharks and subsequently misses the final against Leinster this weekend.
Erasmus expressed concerns about the loosehead stocks with Gerhard Steenekamp and Ntuthuko Mchunu needing to be medically cleared before they are available for selection. The former is another Bulls player who misses the final.
The Boks boss added that the coaches haven’t seen Pieter-Steph du Toit in action yet after he missed the entire Japan Rugby League One season but they believe that he is close to being fit. Meanwhile, Ben-Jason Dixon will only be available in July.
Rassie Erasmus lists all the injuries and absentees from the Springbok camp ahead of the 2025 season 🤕🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/2fy2vQunPl
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 12, 2025
Juarno Augustus is one of nine uncapped players in the 55-man squad but he sustained an injury in the latter stages of Northampton Saints’ season. His availability is complicated due to his move to Ulster as Northampton need to release him to the Irish side and then the club needs to clear him to join the Test set-up.
Sharks centre Lukhanyo Am is also struggling with a knee injury, Erasmus confirmed before moving on to the stars who have niggles but could be in action in the coming weeks.
Jasper Wiese is expected to recover in time to face the Barbarians, while scrum-half Grant Williams is set to be fit for the first Test match against Italy, with Erasmus stating that ‘at the very latest, the Georgia game’.
Winger Makazole Mapimpi sustained a hamstring injury that the Boks hope will rule him out for just 10 days.
Erasmus added that he is unlikely to pick many of the Bulls players against the Barbarians due to their late arrival, while Damian Willemse will only be available for the first Tests against Italy as he serves his suspension.
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/rassie-erasmus-confirms-five-long-term-springboks-injuries-in-a-detailed-update-including-cameron-hanekom
