These are your evening rugby headlines on Tuesday, November 19.
Welsh-qualified star set to debut against Wales
Welsh-qualified star Cameron Hanekom is set to finally make his Springboks debut against Wales this weekend, having previously been linked with representing Warren Gatland’s side.
The 22-year-old – who is eligible to play for Wales through his grandmother – was brought into South Africa’s alignment camps earlier this year after taking the URC by storm last season. However, he was ruled out of the summer Tests against Ireland as well as the Rugby Championship with a hamstring injury.
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But Hanekom is now set to win his first cap from the bench having been named among the replacements for the clash at the Principality Stadium on Saturday. He forms part of a powerful forwards-heavy bench which also features Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, and Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman.
Having previously made his stance on playing for Wales clear, the Bulls star doubled down when facing the media on Tuesday, admitting: “It never crossed my mind, honestly. It was more the media that speculated it. Since I was a young boy I’ve always dreamed of playing for the Springboks.”
After naming Hanekom in his matchday squad, Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus said: “We are delighted that Cameron is getting a chance to play after showing his class at training throughout the tour and for the Bulls.”
Having made seven changes to the team that beat England, Erasmus has named a formidable side for the visit to Cardiff, with brothers Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse starting together as half-backs for the first time. The other five changes are in the pack, with hooker Johan Grobbelaar, prop Thomas du Toit, locks Jean Kleyn and Franco Mostert and flanker Elrigh Louw all brought in.
South Africa: 15. Aphelele Fassi; 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Kurt-Lee Arendse; 10. Jordan Hendrikse, 9. Jaden Hendrikse; 1. Ox Nche, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 3. Thomas du Toit, 4. Jean Kleyn, 5. Franco Mostert, 6. Siya Kolisi (capt), 7. Elrigh Louw, 8. Jasper Wiese.
Replacements: 16. Malcolm Marx, 17. Gerhard Steenekamp, 18. Vincent Koch, 19. Eben Etzebeth, 20. RG Snyman, 21. Cameron Hanekom, 22. Cobus Reinach, 23. Handre Pollard.
Curry returns for England but Feyi-Waboso out
By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent
Tom Curry returns for England’s clash with Japan on Saturday but Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has lost his own race to be fit for the climax to the Autumn Nations Series at Allianz Stadium.
Both players were concussed in the 42-37 defeat by Australia in the second match of the series, ruling them out of Saturday’s 29-20 loss to South Africa.
While Curry has completed the graduated return to play protocols, Feyi-Waboso remains unavailable and is not present in the 36-man training squad named by Steve Borthwick.
Curry replaces Charlie Ewels in the group that assembled at England’s Surrey training base on Tuesday with Cadan Murley called up as a replacement for Elliot Daly, who is struggling with an unspecified injury.
Apart from the change enforced by Daly’s absence and the return of Curry, Borthwick has retained the same players who have been present throughout the autumn.
England must topple Japan to avoid a whitewash this month and even with Eddie Jones’ side ranked 13th in the global standings, Borthwick is likely to make only minor changes to his starting XV.
Furlong in line for Ireland return
Ireland star Tadhg Furlong is set for his first action of the Autumn Series after recovering from a hamstring issue.
The tighthead prop picked up the injury in training ahead of Andy Farrell’s side’s clash with New Zealand and was absent for both that defeat and the win over Argentina.
However, Furlong is now back in training and according to scrum coach John Forgarty is “eager” to get back on to the pitch.
“He’s full of energy,” said Forgarty on Tuesday. “He got through the session and he will be assessed as we go along.
Asked how Furlong was feeling, the coach added: “I’d say bullish, he’s eager to get back and excited to be in and around the team again. It’s lonely when you’re outside of that so he’s excited to be in and around the team, and we are excited as well.”
