Rugby

Springboks coaches opens up about non-selection of key player

Jacques Nienaber has revealed why one of essentially the most influential Springbok gamers has been missed for choice within the Rugby World Cup warm-up towards Argentina this coming Saturday.

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WHY JADEN WAS ABSENT IN PREVIOUS TESTS IN 2023

Scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse has not featured in any of the Springboks’ Test matches up to now this season, initially as a direct outcome of an damage he picked up whereas on obligation for the Sharks within the United Rugby Championship and later because of the premature passing of his father.

Hendrikse rejoined the Springbok camp on the group’s return from New Zealand, however wasn’t chosen to play in South Africa’s ultimate Rugby Championship match towards Argentina at Ellis Park this previous weekend.

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Because he’s in want of game-time earlier than the Springboks announce the ultimate 33-man squad for the Rugby World Cup, the live-wire scrumhalf chosen within the 26-man occasion who flew out to Buenos Aires for warm-up Test towards the Pumas this coming Saturday.

But when Nienaber introduced his group for the sport, Hendrikse’s title was notable absent regardless of him touring to Argentina.

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WHY JADEN WASN’T SELECTED FOR SPRINGBOKS THIS WEEK

Commenting on Hendrikse’s absence for the sport, Nienaber confirmed the 23-year-old isn’t injured, he’s simply unlucky.

“There is nothing fallacious with Jaden. He is match and able to go. The factor round him, he would’ve performed if it wasn’t for the unlucky household tragedy that occurred.

“The plan we had about who is going to play where and when was explained to the squad, but we said there might have to be adjustments for injuries or loss of form. It was plotted out way in advance.”

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“It’s a little bit easier for us to make a decision on Jaden because we know him and know what he can do. We’ve seen him in training. We know what he did for us last year – his first big game was against the All Blacks at Mbombela when Faf [de Klerk] got concussed. With little Test experience, he helped the pack and drove them forward to get a good result,” the Springboks coach defined.

“We know what we have in him. There’s nothing you must read into it. It was just unfortunate. We wanted to give Cobus [Reinach] another go this weekend and we wanted to give Herschel [Jantjies] a go. It is Hersch’s first opportunity this year. Jaden would’ve got an opportunity earlier, but he is just unfortunate due to circumstances.”

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The Springboks throughout a coaching session. Photo: SA Rugby web site.

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