Erasmus adds five players to Springboks squad

Uncapped Ruhan Nel is one of five players added to South Africa’s squad for their final two games in this year’s Rugby Championship.

Nel – who has represented his country in sevens rugby – is included along with the fit-again Sbu Nkosi, who has recovered from an ankle injury that has kept him out of the tournament so far.

There are also places for scrum-half Ivan van Zyl and centre Lionel Mapoe, while Saracens prop Vincent Koch is drafted in to provide further competition up front.

The quintet will join up with the players who were already in camp in Port Elizabeth ahead of the Test against Australia next Saturday.

The Springboks then conclude their Championship fixtures with a home game against New Zealand – who they defeated 36-34 in Wellington last time out – on October 6 in Pretoria.

“Ruhan comes with a lot of international experience with the Blitzboks and he has performed consistently well for Western Province, so it will be good to see how he operates in the Bok environment,” said South Africa boss Rassie Erasmus.

“Trevor and Sbu have been part of the squad earlier in the year and it’s good to welcome them back, while the players who featured for their provinces in recent weeks all got some valuable game time.”

Injured prop Trevor Nyakane, meanwhile, will continue his recovery under the guidance of the national team’s conditioning and medical staff over the next two weeks.

Rassie Erasmus said he was excited to welcome back Van Zyl, Mapoe, Nkosi, and to work with Nel and Koch. “Ruhan has a lot of international experience with @Blitzboks and performed consistently well for WP, will be good to see how he operates in Bok environment,” said Erasmus. pic.twitter.com/1MqAgu9Vbr

— South African Rugby (@Springboks) September 23, 2018

South Africa squad to face Australia and New Zealand:

Forwards: Schalk Brits, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Tendai Mtawarira, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, RG Snyman, Marco van Staden, Warren Whiteley

Backs: Faf de Klerk, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Andre Esterhuizen, Elton Jantjies, Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Lionel Mapoe, Ruhan Nel, Sibusiso Nkosi, Embrose Papier, Handre Pollard, Ivan van Zyl, Damian Willemse

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