Staff Reporter.
Former SA Schools and Junior Springbok captain Salmaan Moerat has earned his first Springbok call-up in a squad of 32 players named by Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber on Tuesday for the Outgoing Tour to the United Kingdom in November.
The Springboks will play three Test matches on the tour – against Wales in Cardiff (6 November), Scotland in Edinburgh (13 November), and England in London (20 November).
Moerat is the only newcomer in Nienaber’s squad that featured in the Lions Series and Rugby Championship and he will join forces with Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Franco Mostert and Marvin Orie in a strong group of second rowers.
The only other uncapped player in the squad is scrumhalf Grant Williams, who travelled to Australia with the Boks for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
The main injury-enforced omissions from Nienaber’s squad, are Faf de Klerk (hip flexor), Cheslin Kolbe (knee), Frans Malherbe (neck), and RG Snyman (knee).
Other players not considered for selection include Pieter-Steph du Toit and Rynhardt Elstadt, who are recovering from shoulder and an ankle injury respectively.
The squad consist of 18 forwards and 14 backs.
“This tour is going to be exciting yet challenging,” said Nienaber.
“The core group of players who played a key role in the series against the British & Irish Lions, as well as the Rugby Championship will remain together as we build consistency and continuity in our squad with an eye on the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
“We had to travel to Australia with an expanded squad due the strict COVID-19 protocols in the country, but with the easing of travel restrictions to Europe and the UK, we were able to revert to a more manageable touring squad.
“We are two years out from the Rugby World Cup in France, and we have close to 20 Test matches before we start our defence of the title, so every match will count in terms of building confidence and consistency as a group.
“A number of players have put up their hands in the Currie Cup and the first four rounds of the United Rugby Championship, which is great for our local game, and while they remain on our radar, we’ve decided to stick with the core of our 2021 squad for this tour.”
The Springboks will depart for a one-week training camp in France on Friday before making the journey to Cardiff for their opening Test.
Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour:
Props:
Thomas du Toit (Sharks) – 13 caps, 0 pts
Steven Kitshoff (Stormers) – 56 caps, 5pts (1t)
Vincent Koch (Saracens) – 28 caps, 0 pts
Ox Nché (Sharks) – 6 caps, 0pts
Trevor Nyakane (Bulls) – 51 caps, 5pts (1t)
Hookers:
Joseph Dweba (Bordeaux Bègles) – 1 cap, 0 pts
Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 43 caps, 45 pts (9t)
Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers) – 45 caps, 45 pts (9t)
Locks:
Lood de Jager (Sale Sharks) – 53 caps, 25 pts (5t)
Eben Etzebeth (Toulon) – 94 caps, 15 pts (3t)
Salmaan Moerat (Stormers) – Uncapped
Marvin Orie (Stormers) – 7 caps, 0 pts
Loose forwards:
Siya Kolisi (captain, Sharks) – 60 caps, 30 pts (6t)
Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo) – 16 caps, 5 pts (1t)
Marco van Staden (Leicester Tigers) – 9 caps, 0 pts
Duane Vermeulen (Ulster) – 58 caps, 15 pts (3t)
Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 8 caps, 0 pts
Utility forward:
Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 48 caps, 5pts (1t)
Scrumhalves:
Herschel Jantjies (Stormers) – 18 caps, 25 pts (5t)
Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 18 caps, 40pts (8t)
Grant Williams (Sharks) – Uncapped
Flyhalves:
Elton Jantjies (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes) – 41 caps, 309 pts (2t, 64c, 56p, 1d)
Handré Pollard (Montpellier) – 57 caps, 558 pts (6t, 83c, 120p, 4d)
Midfielders:
Lukhanyo Am (Sharks) – 23 caps, 25 pts (5t)
Damian de Allende (Munster) – 55 caps, 35 pts (7t)
Jesse Kriel (Eagles) – 48 caps, 60 pts (12t)
Outside backs:
Aphelele Fassi (Sharks) – 2 caps, 10pts (2t)
Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 70 caps, 60 pts (12t)
Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks) – 22 caps, 85 pts (17t)
Sbu Nkosi (Sharks) – 25 caps, 45 pts (9t)
Utility backs:
Damian Willemse (Stormers) – 14 caps, 5pts (1t)
Frans Steyn (Cheetahs) – 71 caps, 141pts (11t, 7c, 21p, 3d)
Springboks’ Outgoing Tour fixtures (SA kick-off times):
Saturday, 6 November
19:30 – Wales v South Africa (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Saturday, 13 November
14:00 – Scotland v South Africa (BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh).