Scrumhalf Morne van den Berg will be on the plane to Argentina for the Springboks’ penultimate Rugby Championship game instead of Grant Williams, who has sustained an injury to his arm.
SA Rugby and coach Rassie Erasmus announced on Thursday that Van den Berg joined the team in Stellenbosch, where they were putting in their final preparations ahead of the tour.
Van den Berg played his first game in the green and gold when the Springboks took on Portugal in Bloemfontein, and got a chance to wear the number 9 jersey in their Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies in Perth.
The #Springboks were forced to call up scrumhalf cover for their trip to Argentina - more here: https://t.co/oO7Z1ncfdb 9️⃣#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/UYV1jqpQEm
— Springboks (@Springboks) September 12, 2024
“It’s always sad to lose a player to injury, and we feel for Grant who has been waiting patiently for his chance to start this season, which he finally achieved last week,” Erasmus said in the statement by SA Rugby.
“But we have great squad depth, and if one player is injured, it opens the door for another player to make a statement. Morne has only played to two Tests so far, and facing Argentina at home is a completely different challenge to what he has faced so far, as is the case with many of the younger players in the touring squad.
“If he receives the opportunity to play, it will be a great way for the coaches to see how he handles with that type of pressure, and it would also be a stern test for him personally.”
With one hand already on the Rugby Championship trophy, the Springboks are expected to depart for Argentina on Saturday.
IOL Sport