Victor Matfield highlights notable absentees from Bok squad

Bok boss Rassie Erasmus unveiled his 37-man squad to do battle against the visiting Wallabies in the defending champions' opening two Rugby Championship clashes this month.

With competition for places arguably being at its zenith, there were always going to be heartbreaks. Erasmus is looking to bring in a new generation to take the Boks to the 2027 Rugby World Cup and needs to blood the youth accordingly.

Speaking on the Rivals podcast, Matfield explained several exclusions.

"There were a few interesting decisions," said the 2007 World Cup winner.

"The biggest one is probably Thomas du Toit. He was probably the best tighthead prop in the northern hemisphere during the club season, but he hasn't given him an opportunity at tighthead, just at loosehead, so that's really interesting.

"And then the two guys who were there for the first World Cup - Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am - are not there anymore. We knew there was going to be a changing of the guard.

"At loose forward as well, there are some other guys getting an opportunity. I think the squad looks good. We've got a lot of depth in that squad, but I still think there are one or two guys that will be changed throughout the year."

Another omission is double World Cup winner and fan favourite Faf de Klerk. With Erasmus opting for three scrumhalves, the 33-year-old misses out to the lightning Grant Williams, the experienced Cobus Reinach and newcomer Morne van den Berg.

Matfield believes Reinach's move to the Stormers counted in his favour.

"He's been on the edge of the squad for the last three or four years" said the former Bulls superstar of de Klerk.

"He didn't play a lot of rugby last year, so they probably had to decide between him and Cobus Reinach to be that experienced scrum-half,"

"Faf played brilliantly when he came on, he had a big impact, but with Cobus being there last year and coming back to South Africa to play in South Africa, he probably just got the nod."