Makazole Mapimpi out of World Cup as world class centre drafted back in

The Springboks have announced that centre Lukhanyo Am will be stepping in to replace wing orl following the fractured cheekbone injury sustained in last night’s match against Tonga.

It’s worth noting that Am was a part of the South African squad that secured the Rugby World Cup in 2019, and he even played a pivotal role by providing the assist for Mapimpi’s try in the final against England.

This change comes on the heels of another substitution where fly-half Handre Pollard replaced hooker Malcolm Marx due to Marx’s knee injury.

Forwards

Props

Steven Kitshoff (Ulster – 74 caps, 10 points)
Vincent Koch (Cell C Sharks – 45 caps, 0 points)
Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers – 61 caps, 5 points)
Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks – 19 caps, 0 points)
Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92 – 61 caps, 5 points)

Hookers

Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks – 60 caps, 60 points)

Second-rows

Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks – 112 caps, 25 points)
Jean Kleyn (Munster – 2 caps, 0 points)
Marvin Orie (Perpignan – 14 caps, 0 points)
RG Snyman (Munster – 26 caps, 5 points)

Flankers

Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz – 69 caps, 30 points)
Siya Kolisi (captain – Racing 92 – 75 caps, 45 points)
Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs – 33 caps, 25 points)
Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls – 12 caps, 0 points)
Duane Vermeulen (SA Rugby – 68 caps, 15 points)
Jasper Wiese (Leicester – 22 caps, 5 points)

Number 8’s

Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers – 7 caps, 0 points)
Franco Mostert (Honda Heat – 65 caps, 15 points)

Backs

Scrum-halves

Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles – 48 caps, 44 points)
Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks – 12 caps, 12 points)
Cobus Reinach (Montpelllier – 25 caps, 45 points)
Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks – 4 caps, 0 points)

Fly-halves

Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers – 7 caps, 45 points)
Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers – 31 caps, 36 points)
Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers – 65 caps, 665 points)

Centres

Damian de Allende (Panasonic Wild Knights – 72 caps, 50 points)
Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins – 13 caps, 0 points)
Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles – 61 caps, 60 points)
Lukhanyo Am

Back three players

Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls – 10 caps, 50 points)
Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath – 25 caps, 81 points)
Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls – 86 caps, 65 points)
Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls – 6 caps, 10 points)