Report: Morne van den Berg has been called up as an injury replacement for Grant Williams…

Morne van den Berg Called Up as Injury Replacement for Grant Williams in Springboks’ Rugby Championship Clash

Morne van den Berg has been called up to the Springboks squad as an injury replacement for Grant Williams for their penultimate Castle Lager Rugby Championship match against Argentina on Saturday, September 21, at Estadio Unico Madre Ciudades in Santiago.

Williams, who started at scrumhalf against the All Blacks last weekend in Cape Town, has been ruled out of the touring squad due to a knock to the arm. Van den Berg, who joined the squad in Stellenbosch on Thursday, made his Springboks debut against Portugal in Bloemfontein and earned his first start in the green and gold against Australia in Perth last month.

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus is keen on building squad depth for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, offering Van den Berg a valuable opportunity to gain experience against top-tier competition. “It’s always sad to lose a player to injury, and we feel for Grant, who has been waiting patiently for his chance to start this season,” said Erasmus. “But we have great squad depth, and this gives Morne a chance to make a statement.”

Erasmus emphasized the significance of Van den Berg’s potential game time against Argentina, noting the different pressures and challenges presented by playing the Pumas on their home turf.

The Springboks returned to training on Thursday after a few days of rest, conducting gym and field sessions. The squad will depart for Argentina on Saturday as they prepare for the final two matches of the Championship, with the last clash taking place at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on September 28.

With an eight-point lead at the top of the standings, the Springboks are confident but expect a fierce battle in front of a passionate Argentinian crowd as they push for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship title.