South Africa’s hopes of a successful defence of the World Cup have been dented by injuries that have ruled out three key players who helped them to win the title in 2019. Handre Pollard, the fly half, Lukhanyo Am, the outside centre, and Lood de Jager, the lock, were all absent from the 33-man squad named today by Jacques Nienaber, the head coach.
As a result of Pollard’s absence, Nienaber has chosen only one specialist fly half – Manie Libbok, who has seven caps – with Damian Willemse, the utility back, likely to have a key playmaking role. Libbok started at No 10 in two of the Springboks’ three games in the recent Rugby Championship, with Willemse starting against New Zealand.
In a squad comprising
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