Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has called up experienced Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi to the squad ahead of their Rugby Championship match against Australia in Cape Town on Saturday, which comes as Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe picked up injuries this past weekend.
While Mapimpi could come straight into the starting team, a decision has been taken to release captain Siya Kolisi and Kurt-Lee Arendse due to injury.
Kolisi and Arendse both suffered injuries in last weekend’s 38-22 defeat against Australia and are expected to be sidelined for a few weeks, and while there is enough cover in the squad at loose forward, Erasmus opted to call up Mapimpi as backline cover.
He will join his team-mates in Cape Town on Monday night.
The double Rugby World Cup-winner currently boasts 47 Test matches and will undoubtedly boost the experience to the Springok backline.
The match at the DHL Stadium kicks off at 17:10 on Saturday and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Springboks in need of reinforcements
Erasmus has confirmed that Jesse Kriel will lead the Boks with Kolisi out. The match-23 will be announced on Tuesday.
“Everyone in the group agrees on what we have to do and what we need to get right this week, and our focus will go into that at training,” said Erasmus.
“There’s still a lot of frustration and disappointment, but we know what we did wrong. They totally outplayed us, they scored some tries that weren’t even from phases, and they gave us a hiding at the breakdown.
“We have our backs against the wall, and we know we have to make it right.”
Erasmus elaborated on the current mood in the camp: “Everyone is embarrassed and disappointed, but I believe that will make us tighter as a team. One tends to learn a lot from a defeat and that’s surely something we’ll carry into this week.”
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