Springboks Facebook
Springbok head coach Jacque Nienaber said selecting the 33 players to defend the World Cup trophy in France was one of the toughest decisions that had to be made by the selection committee.
Nienaber was speaking on Tuesday during the capping ceremony of the Springbok squad at the Supersport headquarters in Johannesburg.
He said; "We were a squad of 42 that worked really hard. Like I said before to get to this squad started in 2018, so there were some tough decisions to be made."
Springbok Captain, Siya Kolisi, who has been nursing an injury, paid tribute to the planning of the coaching staff and the team's hard work.
However, he said the Springboks would have to "vary things" from the way they played during the successful 2019 campaign in Japan, saying many teams have "gotten better" and the Springboks have also improved.
"I think our hard work will show that," Kolisi said.
Nienaber's squad featured a strong mix of experience and some of the best up-and-coming young players in the country, while there was disappointment for three of the starting XV from the 32-12 victory over England in Japan four years ago, who were ruled out by injury and illness.
Flyhalf Handre Pollard (calf), Lukhanyo Am (knee), and Lood de Jager (chest problem) have been placed on standby with six other players.
Springbok Rugby World Cup squad:
Forwards:
Props: Steven Kitshoff (Ulster - 74 caps, 10 points), Vincent Koch (Cell C Sharks - 45 caps, 0 points), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers - 61 caps, 5 points), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks - 19 caps, 0 points), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92 - 61 caps, 5 points).
Hookers: Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks - 60 caps, 60 points), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears - 61 caps, 75 points).
Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks - 112 caps, 25 points), Jean Kleyn (Munster - 2 caps, 0 points), Marvin Orie (Perpignan - 14 caps, 0 points), RG Snyman (Munster - 26 caps, 5 points).
Loose Forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz - 69 caps, 30 points), Siya Kolisi (captain - Racing 92 - 75 caps, 45 points), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs - 33 caps, 25 points), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls - 12 caps, 0 points), Duane Vermeulen (SA Rugby - 68 caps, 15 points), Jasper Wiese (Leicester - 22 caps, 5 points).
Utility Forwards: Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers - 7 caps, 0 points), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat - 65 caps, 15 points).
Backs:
Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles - 48 caps, 44 points), Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks - 12 caps, 12 points), Cobus Reinach (Montpelllier - 25 caps, 45 points), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks - 4 caps, 0 points).
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers - 7 caps, 45 points), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers - 31 caps, 36 points).
Centres: Damian de Allende (Panasonic Wild Knights - 72 caps, 50 points), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins - 13 caps, 0 points), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles - 61 caps, 60 points).
Outside Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls - 9 caps, 50 points), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath - 25 caps, 81 points), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls - 86 caps, 65 points), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks - 38 caps, 115 points), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls - 6 caps, 10 points).
