MOERAT OUT

STORMERS captain Salmaan Moerat was one of three big-name casualties of an up-and-down start to the Springboks’ season after coach Rassie Erasmus dropped the lock for his first Rugby Championship squad.

Erasmus selected 37 players to face Australia in South Africa’s opening two games of the Rugby Championship at home, with Moerat and back-to-back World Cup-winners Faf de Klerk and Makazole Mapimpi also axed.

Moerat recently captained the Boks in their 45-0 second Test win against Italy in Gqeberha, but came in for some scathing criticism from Bok fans on social media about missing a physical edge.

However, Erasmus has not ruled out a return to the Bok group for Stormers yster, with Moerat, De Klerk and Mapimpi placed on standby alongside Stormers duo Evan Roos and Neethling Fouche, and the Sharks' Lukhanyo Am and Vincent Tshituka.

The Bok baas also sprung a surprise by inviting recent World Rugby Under-20 Championship-winning Junior Springboks; Bahtobele Hlekani, Haashim Pead and Cheswill Jooste to train with the national team.   

He has also kept faith with the rumoured to be dropped 100 Test centurion Willie le Roux for the two clashes against the Wallabies on 16 August at Ellis Park and 23 August at Cape Town Stadium.

Erasmus wysed: “It’s always challenging to reduce the squad... We have also informed the players on standby what our plans are and what we expect from them, so that all of them are ready to step up if needed.”

Of inviting youngsters Hlekani, Pead and Jooste to train with the Boks, Erasmus added: “We believe this camp will benefit them significantly, and we are excited to see how they slot in and train with us.”

Bok Rugby Championship squad v Wallabies:

Forwards: Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Marnus van der Merwe, Marco van Staden, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Edwill van der Merwe, Morne van den Berg, Grant Williams, Damian Willemse