Springboks make late move ahead of Bulls clash with All Blacks
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- Springboks make late move ahead of Bulls clash with All Blacks - August 14, 2026
Reinforcements.
The Springboks have made a late move ahead of Saturday’s clash between the Bulls and All Blacks, releasing two players from their squad to feature at Loftus Versfeld.
Elrigh Louw and Johan Grobbelaar have both been made available to the Bulls as they look to get some valuable game time ahead of the four-Test Greatest Rivalry series.
The pair travelled back from Argentina with the Springboks following last weekend’s 17-10 victory over Los Pumas and have had just one training session with the Bulls since returning to South Africa.
Despite that limited preparation, both have been added to Johan Ackermann’s matchday squad and will feature from the bench against New Zealand.
Louw replaces Mpilo Gumede in the number 20 jersey, while Grobbelaar comes in as the replacement hooker in place of Jaundre Schoeman.
“It’s great to have them with us, and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” Ackermann said.
Their inclusion adds even more Springbok experience to the Bulls squad for the historic encounter, with Willie le Roux, Johan Goosen, Ruan Nortje and Marco van Staden already named in the starting XV.
More importantly, it gives Louw and Grobbelaar an opportunity to get minutes against the All Blacks just one week before the two countries meet in the opening Test of the Greatest Rivalry series.
Saturday’s clash is New Zealand’s third provincial fixture of the tour following victories over the Stormers and Sharks.
The Springboks and All Blacks will then meet at Ellis Park on August 22.
