Grieving Springboks Eben Etzebeth and Jaden Hendrikse shall be available for South Africa once they sort out Argentina on Saturday, 29 July in a Rugby Championship final-round match.
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The fathers of stand-in captain and lock Etzebeth and scrumhalf Hendrikse died just lately, casting disappointment over the 43-man squad of the reigning Rugby World Cup champions.
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Etzebeth was in New Zealand when his father, Harry, died after a protracted battle with most cancers, and the ahead opted to stay and lead the staff in a 35-20 loss to the All Blacks final weekend.
Hendrikse, who had been recovering from a shoulder damage, didn’t journey to Auckland after the dying of his father Brian.
Eben Etzebeth and Jaden Hendrikse shall be thought-about for choice
Etzebeth is definite to be a part of the 33-man World Cup squad that may defend the title in France, beginning with a match in opposition to Scotland in Marseille on September 10.
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Hendrikse, first alternative Faf de Klerk, Grant Williams, Cobus Reinach and Herschel Jantjies are competing for what’s presumed shall be three scrumhalf berths.
Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber confirmed to reporters on Wednesday that Etzebeth and Hendrikse shall be thought-about for choice in opposition to the Pumas at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
With New Zealand holding a four-point lead earlier than dealing with struggling Australia in Melbourne, the conflict between South Africa and Argentina is probably going to resolve who finishes runners-up.
Pollard could face Wales
New Zealand have 9 factors in a contest diminished to a single spherical earlier than the World Cup kicks off in Paris on September 8, South Africa 5, Argentina 4 and Australia one.
Eight of the 9 World Cup tournaments have been gained by southern hemisphere groups, and the Rugby Championship affords well timed aggressive match observe shut to every world showpiece.
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Nienaber mentioned injury-prone flyhalf Handre Pollard, who has not performed for the Springboks since an August 2022 loss in Australia, is making good progress recovering from a calf damage.
The coach mentioned he anticipated the Leicester Tigers playmaker to be available for the second of three World Cup warm-up matches, in opposition to Wales in Cardiff on August 19.
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Captain and flanker Siya Kolisi, who suffered a critical knee damage in April however is poised to skipper the Springboks in France, may additionally return to motion within the Cardiff Test.
South Africa play Argentina in Buenos Aires on August 5 and New Zealand in London on August 25 in different pre-World Cup internationals.
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After Scotland, the defending champions face Romania in Bordeaux on September 17, Ireland in Paris on September 23 and Tonga in Marseille on October 1 within the World Cup.
The high two Pool B finishers – the match between Ireland and South Africa is anticipated to resolve who comes first and second – will advance to the quarter-finals.
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
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