The Springboks have added one more towering pillar to their green wall ahead of Saturday’s Rugby Championship decider against Argentina at Twickenham, with Lood de Jager flying in to join the squad as cover for Franco Mostert.
Mostert, ever the workhorse in the Bok engine room, remained in South Africa following a family bereavement, leaving coach Rassie Erasmus to call on the experience of De Jager.
Lood de Jager will join the #Springboks in London on Monday as cover for Franco Mostert, who remained behind in South Africa due to a family bereavement 🔀#ForeverGreenForeverGold
— Springboks (@Springboks) September 29, 2025
The 31-year-old lock had himself been sidelined after taking a knock during the Boks’ record 43–10 demolition of the All Blacks in Wellington, but Erasmus confirmed that De Jager has shaken off the niggle and is fully fit to rejoin the fray.
“The journey to London was good, and with it being an overnight flight, the players rested well on the plane and look fresh and ready to get back into the swing of things tomorrow,” said Erasmus, as his squad touched down in the English capital on Monday morning.
“Fortunately, the time zone is similar to South Africa, so the players can jump straight back into action without any challenges. We’ll obviously manage them carefully this week to ensure we get the best out of them on the field on Saturday.”
The Boks will spend Monday in recovery mode before rolling their sleeves up on Tuesday, when training resumes in earnest ahead of what promises to be a bruising arm-wrestle with the Pumas.
“This is a massive game, and we have no doubt Argentina will come out guns blazing to finish their campaign on a high note,” Erasmus warned.
“But at the same time, we have a chance to win the competition back-to-back for the first time in history, so we have all the motivation we need this week.”
For Mostert, Erasmus struck a note of compassion, emphasising that the player’s absence will be felt as keenly off the field as in the set piece.
“We all feel deeply for Franco and wish him strength during this challenging time, and we’ll support him as well as we can.
“Fortunately, Lood has recovered from his injury, and his experience and leadership will be valuable in such an important week for the team.”
South Africa head into Saturday’s clash perched just one point clear of New Zealand at the top of the standings, with the Wallabies lurking three points further back and Argentina scrapping to avoid the wooden spoon.
The equation is simple: win, and the Boks become the first South African side to clinch back-to-back Rugby Championship titles since the competition’s inception.
Like any crunch fixture, the margins will be fine, and Erasmus knows his pack will have to be as tight as a well-bound scrum and as ruthless as a counter-ruck if they’re to hold off the Pumas’ charge.
The coach will name his match-day squad on Tuesday, but the recall of De Jager ensures the Boks won’t be short of muscle or know-how in the trenches when the battle horns sound at Twickenham.
