Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named the same 54 players – nine of whom are uncapped – ahead of their encounter against the Barbarians, which will be followed by the Castle Lager Incoming Series against Italy.
The squad, which was confirmed on Thursday by SA Rugby, includes 31 Rugby World Cup players.
The nine uncapped players in the group are Marnus van der Merwe, Neethling Fouche, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Cobus Wiese, Renzo du Plessis, Vincent Tshituka, Juarno Augustus, Ethan Hooker, and Ntokozo Makhaza.
Depth and talent
“We were very pleased with the two Springbok alignment camps we hosted, and we are excited to have the luxury of announcing a squad with so much depth and talent,” said Erasmus.
“Having an expanded squad will not only afford us the opportunity to have productive training sessions. It will also bode well for the younger players in the group to learn from the senior players, many of whom are Rugby World Cup champions.
“We take pride in offering talented young players a chance to work first-hand with the coaches. To expose them to standards at an international level. And we are excited to see them showcase their skills at the camp.”
The available players will assemble in Johannesburg on Sunday, June 8. They will begin their on-field preparations on Monday. The rest of the players will join the squad as they complete their club commitments.
Five players, meanwhile, were not considered for selection due to injuries. Frans Malherbe, Elrigh Louw, Ben-Jason Dixon, Deon Fourie, and Trevor Nyakane.
The Boks will meet the Barbarians in their first encounter in Cape Town on June 28 for the Qatar Airways Cup. It will be followed by back-to-back Tests against Italy in Pretoria and Gqeberha. These will be on July 5 and 12, and Georgia in Nelspruit a week later on July 19.
Springbok squad
Forwards: Juarno Augustus (Northampton Saints), Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) and Renzo du Plessis (Emirates Lions). Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) and Thomas du Toit (Bath).
Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers) and Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls). Jean Kleyn (Munster), Vincent Koch and Siya Kolisi (both Hollywoodbets Sharks). Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi and Ntuthuko Mchunu (both Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) and Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks). Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Emirates Lions) and Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs).
RG Snyman (Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) and Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks). Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets) and Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls). Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Backs:
Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) and Damian de Allende (Wild Knights). Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen and Aphelele Fassi (both Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse and Ethan Hooker (all Hollywoodbets Sharks). Quan Horn (Emirates Lions), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) and Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls).
Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) and Ntokozo Makhaza (UCT). Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) and Cobus Reinach (Montpellier).
Morne van den Berg and Edwilll van der Merwe (both Emirates Lions). Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) and Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
