South Africa have confirmed centre Lukhanyo Am has replaced wing Makazole Mapimpi in their squad for Rugby World Cup 2023.
Mapimpi fractured his cheek bone in the Springboks' 49-18 win against Tonga on Sunday. Am won the RWC with South Africa in 2019 and made the assist for Mapimpi's try in the final against England.
This change comes after fly-half Handre Pollard replaced hooker https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/teams/south-africa/player/50452" rel="nofollow - Malcolm Marx , who suffered a knee injury, in their squad.
The defending champions beat Scotland 18-3 in their opening Pool B match in Marseille, with further wins against Romania and Tonga, but were defeated by Ireland.
Forwards
Prop
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)
Hooker
Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks – 60 caps, 60 points)
Second-row
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)
Flanker
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)
Utility forward
Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers – 7 caps, 0 points)
Franco Mostert (Honda Heat – 65 caps, 15 points)
Backs
Scrum-half
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-half
Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers – 7 caps, 45 points)
Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers – 31 caps, 36 points)
Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers - 65 caps, 665 points)
Centre
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
Wing / full back
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)
Changes in bold. Players replaced from original squad of 33: Malcolm Marx, Makazole Mapimpi