Two skilled Boks with a complete of 134 Test caps between them, Duane Vermeulen and Frans Steyn, have been recalled to the national squad for the house leg of the Rugby Championship.
Vermeulen had surgical procedure to his knee, whereas Steyn suffered a hamstring harm in June which dominated them out of the Incoming Series towards Wales, however each at the moment are match sufficient to be again within the camp.
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Interestingly, Cobus Reinach (scrumhalf) – who did his rehabilitation with the nationwide squad following a dislocated shoulder – nonetheless requires medical clearance from his membership Montpellier earlier than he will be thought-about for choice.
Notably, the Boks have advised that “with sufficient cover at the back and at loose forward in the squad”, Aphelele Fassi and Marcell Coetzee will now return to their franchises.
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Warrick Gelant and Kurt-Lee Arendse stay within the squad, with the latter prone to change the injured Cheslin Kolbe, who will solely be accessible once more in a number of weeks’ time.
“We will reassess the size of the squad for our tour to Australia and Argentina in the next few weeks,” coach Jacques Nienaber commented.
“Duane and Frans are both very experienced players and they each have valuable traits that they bring to the field of play, so we are excited to welcome them into the fold. This will offer the coaches and medical staff a good opportunity to determine where they are in terms of their rugby.
“It is disappointing for Aphelele and Marcell, but we were limited in how many players we could select. That said, we know what both of them can do on the field and we have a big picture in mind with the Rugby World Cup next year.
“We will continue to keep a close eye on them at their provinces as well as all the other players on our radar that were not selected in this group.”
BOK SQUAD FOR THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP:
Props:
Thomas du Toit (Sharks)
Steven Kitshoff (Stormers)
Vincent Koch (Wasps)
Frans Malherbe (Stormers)
Ntuthuko Mchunu (Sharks)
Ox Nche (Sharks)
Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92)
Hookers:
Joseph Dweba (Stormers)
Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears)
Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks)
Locks:
Lood de Jager (Wild Knights)
Eben Etzebeth (Sharks)
Salmaan Moerat (Stormers)
Ruan Nortje (Bulls)
Marvin Orie (Stormers)
Loose forwards:
Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz)
Siya Kolisi (Sharks)
Elrigh Louw (Bulls)
Evan Roos (Stormers)
Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs)
Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers)
Duane Vermeulen (Ulster)
Utility forwards:
Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse)
Deon Fourie (Stormers)
Franco Mostert (Honda Heat)
Scrumhalves:
Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles)
Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks)
Herschel Jantjies (Stormers)
Grant Williams (Sharks)
Flyhalves:
Elton Jantjies (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes)
Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers)
Midfielders:
Lukhanyo Am (Sharks)
Damian de Allende (Wild Knights)
Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins)
Jesse Kriel (Cannon Eagles)
Outside Backs:
Warrick Gelant (Racing 92)
Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz)
Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks)
Utility Backs:
Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls)
Frans Steyn (Cheetahs)
Damian Willemse (Stormers)
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Rugby Championship fixtures (SA instances):
Saturday, 6 August – Springboks v New Zealand, Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit – 17:05
Saturday, 13 August – Springboks v New Zealand, Ellis Park, Johannesburg – 17:05
Saturday, 27 August – Australia v Springboks, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide – 07:30
Saturday, 3 September – Australia v Springboks, Allianz Stadium, Sydney – 11:35
Saturday, 17 September – Argentina v Springboks, Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires – 21:10
Saturday, 24 September – Springboks v Argentina, Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban – 17:05
