CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – South Africa have recalled experienced duo Duane Vermeulen and Frans Steyn to their squad for the home leg of the Rugby Championship but will be without injured wing Cheslin Kolbe.
Number eight Vermeulen (knee) and utility back Steyn (hamstring), who both won the World Cup with the Springboks in 2019, have recovered from injuries that kept them out of the 2-1 home series win over Wales this month.
“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,” Bok coach Jacques Nienaber said in a media release from South African Rugby.
“This will offer the coaches and medical staff a good opportunity to determine where they are in terms of their rugby.”
Fullback Aphelele Fassi and loose-forward Marcell Coetzee have been released from the squad, while Kolbe is recovering from the broken jaw he sustained against Wales and will be available for selection again in September.
The Boks play back-to-back tests against New Zealand in Nelspruit on Aug. 6 and Johannesburg a week later, before they head to Australia for two matches.
South Africa squad:
Props: Thomas du Toit, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Frans Malherbe, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane
Hookers: Joseph Dweba, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi
Locks: Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Salmaan Moerat, Ruan Nortje, Marvin Orie
Loose forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Elrigh Louw, Evan Roos, Kwagga Smith, Jasper Wiese, Duane Vermeulen
Utility forwards: Rynhardt Elstadt, Deon Fourie, Franco Mostert
Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse, Herschel Jantjies, Grant Williams
Flyhalves: Elton Jantjies, Handre Pollard
Midfielders: Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Jesse Kriel
Outside Backs: Warrick Gelant, Willie le Roux, Makazole Mapimpi
Utility Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Frans Steyn, Damian Willemse
(Reporting by Nick Said, editing by Ed Osmond)
