Mohoje’s lost his Bok mojo

Oupa Mohoje’s Springbok shares have dropped with his omission from Saturday’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship opener against the Pumas in Port Elizabeth.

Mohoje, who was the starting No 7 option for the Springboks against France, missed the latter part of the series because of injury. In his absence Sharks loose-forward Jean-Luc du Preez played at No 7 and at No 8 in the final Test.

Du Preez’s display against the French has been deemed good enough because he remained with the squad when Springbok coach Allister Coetzee released a quintet of players for this weekend’s Currie Cup fixtures.

Mohoje’s provincial and regional teammate Uzair Cassiem is set to start for the Boks at No 8 with Du Preez and Siya Kolisi completing the loose-trio. Jaco Kriel and Dan du Preez will add loose-forward cover among.

Mohoje wasn’t as lucky and he joined Cheetahs colleague Francois Venter, who has lost out to the Stormers and Western Province midfielder Damian de Allande.

The Bulls duo of Warrick Gelant (fullback) and Lizo Gqoboka (prop, both Vodacom Blue Bulls), and Western Province utility back Dillyn Leyds will also miss out on the Rugby Championship Test.

Handre Pollard was also ruled out because of injury, while Test regulars Frans Malherbe and Warren Whiteley will miss the Rugby Championship in its entirety because of injury.

The Springbok match day squad will be named on Thursday and the squad of 28 that leaves for Salta, Argentina on Wednesday 23 August will be announced next Tuesday, 22 August 2017.