Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is known for springing a few surprises when it comes to both selections and tactics, but the only surprise during Tuesday’s squad announcement for the end-of-year tour was that there were no surprises.
Erasmus stuck to his guns, naming no uncapped players in the 34-man squad for the three-Test UK tour. The most notable selections were returning World Cup-winning quartet RG Snyman and Franco Mostert (both locks), Andre Esterhuizen (centre) and Damian Willemse (utility back).
Snyman has recovered from a foot issue, Mostert returns from a broken leg, Esterhuizen has overcome a shoulder injury and Willemse re-joins the squad after missing all 10 Tests this year due to a finger injury.
The foursome brings valuable added experience and skill to the squad, which consists of 18 forwards and 16 backs but will be without Steven Kitshoff (neck), Lood de Jager (shoulder), Salmaan Moerat and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (knee injuries) due to injuries.
Led by Siya Kolisi, the squad will depart for a Jersey training camp on October 27 and then head to Edinburgh on November 3 ahead of the showdowns with Scotland on Sunday, November 10, England in London on Saturday, November 16 and Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, November 23.
England are currently the highest-ranked of the Boks’ opponents in fifth position on the world rankings, with Scotland in seventh place, and Wales in 11th position.
The double World Cup winners and newly minted Rugby Championship champions are hoping to end a successful season in which they’ve won eight of their 10 Tests with their only defeats, to Ireland and Argentina, both being by a single point.
Springbok squad for the Outgoing Tour:
Props: Thomas du Toit (Bath), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Sharks), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls).
Hookers: Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks).
Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), RG Snyman (Leinster).
Loose forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Siya Kolisi (captain, Sharks), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Utility forward: Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls).
Scrumhalves: Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Sharks).
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers).
Centres: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).
Outside backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).