Springboks spring selection surprise: Rassie calls up semi-professional player

The Springboks will hold their second alignment camp of the season later this week and Rassie Erasmus has made a big left-field call with one of his selections.

The South African Test squad will assemble for a virtual alignment camp on 3 May after Springbok team manager Charles Wessels confirmed via an official letter to the franchises that the team management decided to cut their second three-day alignment camp of the year due to uncertainty around which players will be available for the season-opening Test against Wales in June.

It is widely believed that the squad for the Wales Test in London — which is scheduled for the same day as the United Rugby Championship final — will be predominantly made up of home-based players, because players based in Europe, the UK and Ireland will not be considered, as the game falls outside the official Test window.

However, those players will not just be a mix of URC stars as Erasmus has already called on players from the Pumas and Cheetahs, respectively.

WHO ARE THE NEWBIES IN THE BOK CAMP?

According to Sunday newspaper Rapport, Pumas prop Sampie Swiegers and hooker Cheetahs Marnus van der Merwe have been invited to attend the virtual alignment camp next Friday.

Swiegers is the NWU Eagles’ former Varsity Cup-winning captain, who joined the Pumas as part of Jimmy Stonehouse’s squad for the ongoing SA Cup.

Now a potential new Springboks ace, an overwhelmed Swiegers told Rapport that it feels surreal to be in the mix.

“It’s an incredible feeling and ofcourse a great privilege [to be involved with the Springboks]. It actually still feels unreal.”

“All those players are my heroes,” he added. “I’m going to enjoy every moment, take in as much as I can, and learn where I can.”

“I see this invitation as a step in the right direction. I believe with constant work, I will one day get my chance.”

As for Van der Merwe, he will also be attending his first Springboks alignment camp and he is the only Cheetahs player that scored an invite to the event.

SPRINGBOKS’ FULL 2024 TEST SCHEDULE

Mid-year Test fixtures

Saturday, 22 June: Springboks vs Wales (Twickenham, London)
Saturday, 6 July: SA vs Ireland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday, 13 July: Springboks vs Ireland (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
Saturday, 20 July: SA vs Portugal (Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein)

Rugby Championship fixtures

Saturday, 10 August: Australia vs Springboks (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
Saturday, 17 August: Australia vs SA (Optus Stadium, Perth)
Saturday, 31 August: Springboks vs New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday, 7 September: SA v New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
Saturday, 21 September: Argentina v Springboks (Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades, Santiago)
Saturday, 28 September: SA v Argentina (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)

End-of-year-tour fixtures

Sunday, 10 November: Scotland vs Springboks (Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
Saturday, 16 November: England vs SA (Twickenham, London)
Saturday, 23 November: Wales vs Springboks (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)