‘No personal issue with Evan’ as Rassie says Augustus out for Boks

SPRINGBOK coach Rassie Erasmus will be wearing blue on Saturday when the Bulls play Leinster in the United Rugby Championship final, but won't pick any of Jake White’s men for the season opener against the Barbarians on June 28 in Cape Town.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

Erasmus also confirmed that it is unlikely that injured Bulls No 8 Cameron Hanekom will play this year, and the same goes for props Frans Malherbe and Trevor Nyakane, and utility forward Deon Fourie.

The Bok boss added that he was disappointed that Juarno Augustus will not be joining the squad for the foreseeable future because of a rib injury he picked up playing for Northampton.

The former World Junior Player of the Year had been in line for a Springbok debut after a long apprenticeship in English rugby.

“It will be great if the Bulls can pull it off” Erasmus said. “There are at least 13 Bulls players that are either already Boks or are in our plans, and if they join our camp as champions, it will be a nice boost.

“Tm good friends with (Leinster defence) coach Jacques Nienaber, but I will be cheering for the Bulls.

“Jake has done us some favours with how he has moved guys around positions, like Jan-Hendrik Wessels (in the front row), and Ruan Nortjé (lock and flank).