Springbok fullback Willie le Roux has been called into the national squad’s training camp in Durban as the team intensifies preparations for their crucial Castle Lager Rugby Championship encounter against Argentina on Saturday.
The experienced fullback, who recently earned his 100th cap for South Africa, will train with the squad from Sunday through Wednesday before returning to the Vodacom Bulls ahead of their United Rugby Championship opener against the Ospreys.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus made the strategic decision to bring in Le Roux despite naming a 33-man squad for the final two championship matches, recognising the need for quality training partners as the competition reaches its climax.
“Willie is a member of our wider squad, and we feel it will benefit us to have him train with us early in the week,” Erasmus explained. “We try to train the way we play, and by having him in camp it will allow us to improve the quality of our training sessions ahead of this vital match.”
The stakes couldn’t be higher for the Springboks, who currently sit second on the championship table with 10 points – level with third-placed New Zealand following their commanding 43-10 victory over the All Blacks in Wellington last weekend. Australia leads the standings with 11 points, while Argentina trails in fourth with nine points.
With the title race wide open heading into the final two rounds, Erasmus highlighted the importance of maximising every training opportunity.
“Every point will count in the next two games if we want to win the competition, so it’s essential that we get the most out of our training time to be as sharp as possible when we take the field,” the coach said.
The Springboks have been in camp since Thursday, conducting training sessions on Friday and Saturday as they look to build momentum following their return from New Zealand.
After facing Argentina at Kings Park on Saturday, the Springboks will conclude their championship campaign against the Pumas at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on 4 October.
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