Jordan Hendrikse has been called up to replace Frans Malherbe in the Springbok squad for the Outgoing Tour after the experienced prop was forced to remain in South Africa on Sunday due to an ankle injury.
Malherbe suffered the injury in the Stormers’ United Rugby Championship clash against the Glasgow Warriors in Stellenbosch last Saturday.
Hendrikse – the brother of scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse – started his first and only Test against Wales in London in June in the Springboks’ opening match of the season, while he was also named in Bok coach Rassie Erasmus’ standby squad for the Incoming Series. The Sharks flyhalf will join the squad in Jersey on Thursday.
WHO A BACKLINE PLAYER COMES IN FOR A FRONT ROW
Erasmus explained the decision to replace Malherbe with a backline player, saying there was enough depth among the props at this stage in the group following the call-up of Wilco Louw, who has joined fellow front-rankers Thomas du Toit, Vincent Koch, Ox Nche and Gerhard Steenekamp in the squad.
Earlier, Johan Grobbelaar (hooker) and Cameron Hanekom (loose forward) were also called up after the withdrawal of Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Damian Willemse, who were ruled out with ankle and groin injuries respectively.
RASSIE EXPLAINS SPRINGBOKS’ SELECTION CHOICES
“Jordan has been playing very well for the Hollywoodbets Sharks in the Vodacom URC and he’s a capped Springbok, so he is familiar with our structures,” said Erasmus.
“This will also serve as a great opportunity for him to get further exposure at international level and in the Springbok set-up itself. We also have good depth among the forwards, so we opted to call up Jordan to add further depth among the backs.
“He’s a talented player, and he’s been growing in the role at his union as we saw with his late penalty goal to earn the Sharks the Currie Cup title earlier this season, and through his recent performances in the Vodacom URC, so we are excited to see what he can add to the squad.”
“With the UK and South Africa being in similar time zones it would be simple to call up another prop should the need arise during the tour.”
The Springboks started their on-field preparations for the Outgoing Tour in Jersey on Tuesday after having a recovery day on Monday following the trip to the island via London on Sunday.
The Boks will face Scotland in Edinburgh (Sunday 10 November), England in London (Saturday 16 November) and Wales in Cardiff (Saturday 23 November) on their traditional end-of-year tour.
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