Youngsters dominate Springbok Green vs Gold squads
Updated | By Gareth Jenkinson
A number of exciting youngsters have been included in the two Springboks' Green vs Gold squads that will clash next weekend in Cape Town.

The two 25 man squads were selected in an entertaining live draft on Supersport on Friday night. The two teams will be coached by Springbok backline coach Mzwandile Stick and forwards coach Deon Davids respectively.
Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber will assist Davids while director of rugby Rassie Erasmus will act as Stick’s assistant.
Both pairs went about selecting their respective squads for next weekend’s clash and a number of young and upcoming players cracked the nod in what will serve as a trial of sorts for prospective new members of the Springboks team going forward.
Four prominent players were omitted from selection due to injuries. This included 2019 SA and World Rugby player of Year Pieter-Steph du Toit, fellow Rugby World Cup winner Sbu Nkosi, exciting young Sharks fullback Aphelele Fassi and Bulls prop Lizo Gqoboka.
The team’s coaches then went about selecting their 25 man squads from an initial list of 93 players that are currently based in South Africa.
The Springbok Green squad features a number of uncapped Test players including prop Luan de Bruin, hooker Schalk Erasmus, locks JD Schickerling and Hyron Andrews, loose forwards Junior Pokomela and Juarno Augustus, scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba, flyhalf Manie Libbok, centres Wandisile Simelane and Jeremy Ward and all four outside backs including Seabelo Senatla, Yaw Penxe, Gianni Lombard and Malcolm Jaer. 14
The Gold squad’s uncapped Test players include prop Dylan Smith and Ruan Dreyer, hooker Dylan Richardson, lock Salmaan Moerat, loose forwards Vincent Tshituka and James Venter, scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse, centres Rikus Pretorius, Werner Kok and Manuel Rass and outside backs Sergeal Petersen and Rosko Specman. 12
Springbok heavyweights in the mix
While the squads are heavily weighted with names and faces of the next generation of Springbok players, there are a number of Rugby World Cup winning players adding plenty of experience to the two squads.
The Green squad includes Rugby World Cup winners Thomas du Toit, Trevor Nyakane, Bongi Mbonambi, captain Siya Kolisi, Duane Vermeulen, Elton Jantjies and Frans Steyn.
Meanwhile the Gold squad’s World Cup winners include Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Herschel Jantjies, Damian Willemse, Lukhanyo Am and Warrick Gelant.
A few familiar faces return to the wider Springbok setup and will be looking to prove that they deserve to add more Test caps to their personal tallies.
This includes Sharks prop Ox Nche, lock and loose forward Oupa Mohoje who has 19 Test caps to his name, fellow loose forward Arno Botha and scrumhalf Embrose Papier for the Green squad.
The Gold squad features a few players that will be hungry to continue their Springbok careers. This includes Stormers hooker Scarra Ntubeni, locks Marvin Orie and Jason Jenkins, loose forwards Marco van Staden, Nizaam Carr and Sikhumbuzo Notshe, and Sharks flyhalf Curwin Bosch.
Springbok Green squad:
Props: Ox Nche*, Thomas du Toit**, Trevor Nyakane**, Luan de Bruin
Hookers: Bongi Mbonambi**, Schalk Erasmus
Locks: JD Schickerling, Hyron Andrews, Oupa Mohoje*
Looseforwards: Siya Kolisi**, Arno Botha8, Duane Vermeulen**, Junior Pokomela, Juarno Augustus
Scrumhalves: Sanele Nohamba, Embrose Papier*
Flyhalves: Elton Jantjies**, Manie Libbok
Centres: Frans Steyn**, Wandisile Simelane, Jeremy Ward
Outside backs: Seabelo Senatla, Yaw Penxe, Gianni Lombard, Malcolm Jaer
Springbok Gold squad:
Props: Steven Kitshoff**, Dylan Smith, Frans Malherbe**, Ruan Dreyer
Hookers: Scarra Ntubeni*, Dylan Richardson
Locks: Salmaan Moerat, Marvin Orie*, Jason Jenkins*
Looseforwards: Marco van Staden*, Nizaam Carr*, Sikhumbuzo Notshe*; Vincent Tshituka, James Venter
Scrumhalves: Herschel Jantjies**, Jaden Hendrikse
Flyhalves: Damian Willemse**, Curwin Bosch*
Centres: Rikus Pretorius, Lukhanyo Am**, Werner Kok, Manuel Rass
Outside backs: Sergeal Petersen, Rosko Specman, Warrick Gelant**
** denotes Springbok RWC squad members
*denotes capped Springbok test players
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