{"id":23769,"date":"2025-08-19T12:18:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T10:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=23769"},"modified":"2026-03-12T10:00:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T08:00:45","slug":"mapimpi-returns-to-boks-squad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/mapimpi-returns-to-boks-squad\/","title":{"rendered":"Makazole Mapimpi Returns to Boks Squad After Ellis Park Defeat to Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Springboks have welcomed back double World Cup winner Makazole Mapimpi as they prepare for Saturday\u2019s Rugby Championship Test against Australia in Cape Town. The seasoned winger has been drafted into the squad following a series of injuries. These injuries have impacted South Africa\u2019s backline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mapimpi\u2019s inclusion comes after Kurt-Lee Arendse was sidelined with a knee injury. Meanwhile, fellow wing Edwill van der Merwe continues to struggle with an ankle issue. These setbacks have left the Springbok coaching staff reshuffling options on the wings. This comes ahead of a crucial encounter with the Wallabies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-kolbe-set-for-return\">Kolbe Set for Return<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Another key wing, Cheslin Kolbe, missed last weekend\u2019s Test at Ellis Park due to a minor injury. He is expected to return for the Cape Town showdown. Kolbe\u2019s comeback provides a significant boost for the Boks. It offers speed and creativity to a backline seeking to rebound from a 38-22 defeat to Australia in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-1090586472\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-kolisi-injury-blow\">Kolisi Injury Blow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Springboks have also suffered a major setback with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/siya-kolisi-praises-team-unity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">captain Siya Kolisi <\/a>ruled out for up to four weeks. Kolisi, along with Arendse, has been released from the squad. This leaves a leadership gap, in addition to the loss on the field. Despite this, coach Rassie Erasmus has opted not to call up a replacement for Kolisi. He cites sufficient cover among the loose forwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-du-toit-out-leadership-changes\">Du Toit Out, Leadership Changes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Adding to the injury concerns, <strong>Pieter-Steph du Toit<\/strong>, a two-time World Rugby Player of the Year, remains sidelined and will not feature in Saturday\u2019s Test. In light of these absences, Erasmus confirmed on Monday that <strong>centre Jesse Kriel<\/strong> will take on the captaincy for the upcoming clash. Kriel will lead a side determined to bounce back after a challenging weekend in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2441322909\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-squad-depth-tested\">Squad Depth Tested<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The injury-ravaged squad highlights the depth challenges facing the Springboks as they enter this critical stage of the Rugby Championship. While <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/mapimpi-nears-50-tests-with-32-tries\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mapimpi<\/a> and Kolbe\u2019s availability strengthens the wings, the forward pack must adapt to the absence of experienced leaders like Kolisi and du Toit. Erasmus\u2019 tactical decisions will be crucial as South Africa looks to restore confidence and momentum ahead of their next matches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-anticipation-builds-for-cape-town-test\">Anticipation Builds for Cape Town Test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Erasmus is expected to reveal his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizen.co.za\/sport\/rugby\/mapimpi-called-into-injury-hit-boks-squad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">match-day selection <\/a>around mid-day on Tuesday. This will give fans a chance to assess the side that will face a determined Australian team. With the Wallabies fresh off a victory in Johannesburg, the Boks will need to deliver a disciplined performance. They must play cohesively to claim redemption on home soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Saturday\u2019s fixture in Cape Town promises high-intensity rugby. The Springboks aim to reassert their dominance in the Rugby Championship. Fans will be watching closely to see if Mapimpi\u2019s return and Kolbe\u2019s comeback can spark the attacking flair required to turn the tide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Related article: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/triple-blow-proteas-springboks-and-du-plessis-all-suffer-defeat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Triple Blow: Proteas, Springboks and Du Plessis All Suffer Defeat<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Springboks have welcomed back double World Cup winner Makazole Mapimpi as they prepare for Saturday\u2019s Rugby Championship Test against Australia in Cape Town. The seasoned winger has been drafted into the squad following a series of injuries. These injuries have impacted South Africa\u2019s backline. Mapimpi\u2019s inclusion comes after Kurt-Lee Arendse was sidelined with a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":23770,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"The Springboks have welcomed back double World Cup winner Makazole Mapimpi as they prepare for Saturday\u2019s Rugby Championship Test against Australia in Cape...","footnotes":""},"categories":[56,64],"tags":[3174,1341,415,873],"class_list":{"0":"post-23769","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"category-sports-news","9":"tag-rugby-championship","10":"tag-rugby-news","11":"tag-sa-rugby","12":"tag-springboks"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23769","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23769"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23769\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23771,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23769\/revisions\/23771"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23770"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23769"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23769"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23769"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}