Springboks bolstered by Lood return ahead of Twickenham decider

The Springboks called up Lood de Jager on Monday as cover for Franco Mostert ahead of the second and decisive Rugby Championship Test at Twickenham on Saturday against Argentina.

South Africa find themselves first on the standings, and a victory in London will likely secure the title for a second season in a row. The world champions are top with 15 points, New Zealand one point behind, Australia in third on 11 points, and Argentina on nine at the foot of the log.

Mostert remained in South Africa due to a family bereavement, and De Jager has made a full recovery after picking up a niggle during the 43-10 victory over the All Blacks in Wellington. After Saturday’s 67-30 demolition of the Pumas at Kings Park, the attention now shifts to the final duel in London (3pm kick-off).

Head coach Rassie Erasmus will announce his match-day squad on Tuesday, the same day the Boks return to the training field after taking Monday as a recovery day following their travels.

“The journey to London was good, and with it being an overnight flight, the players rested well on the plane and look fresh and ready to get back into the swing of things tomorrow (Tuesday),” Erasmus said in a statement.

“Fortunately, the time zone is similar to South Africa, so the players can jump straight back into action without any challenges. We’ll obviously manage them carefully this week to ensure we get the best out of them on the field on Saturday.”

After putting the Argentines to the sword this past weekend, they expect a massive fightback from the passionate South Americans. By kick-off, the Boks will know exactly what they must do to secure a first-ever back-to-back title in the history of the southern hemisphere competition.

Australia and New Zealand face each other in Perth on Saturday morning, with both sides looking to end their campaign on a high. The All Blacks can still claim the title, but they must beat the Wallabies and hope that Argentina can stun the South Africans with a victory.

Erasmus knows they will be up against a tough Pumas side. There could be some changes to the team for the Twickenham duel as the Boks look to further test certain combinations. However, finishing with a victory and momentum before heading into the year-end tour will be high on the Springboks’ list.

“This is a massive game, and we have no doubt Argentina will come out guns blazing to finish their campaign on a high note. At the same time, we have a chance to win the competition back-to-back for the first time in history, so we have all the motivation we need this week.

“We all feel deeply for Franco and wish him strength during this challenging time, and we’ll support him as best we can. Fortunately, Lood has recovered from his injury, and his experience and leadership will be valuable in such an important week for the team.”