Nel, Nkosi, Koch added to Springbok squad

September 24, 2018
1367
South African Rugby

The uncapped Blitzbok star Ruhan Nel, Vincent Koch (prop), Sbu Nkosi (wing), Lionel Mapoe (centre) and Ivan van Zyl (scrumhalf) have been added to the Springbok squad for their final two Rugby Championship home matches against the Wallabies and the All Blacks.

They will join the 17 players already in camp in Port Elizabeth on Sunday. The Springboks face the Wallabies next Saturday, 29 September in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. They conclude the Rugby Championship with a return fixture against the All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria a week later.

Nel, who plays outside for the Western Province in the Currie Cup, is included amongst the backs alongside Mapoe. Nkosi has recovered from the ankle injury that stopped him from playing in any Rugby Championship matches so far this year.

The Springbok squad for the Rugby Championship home leg against the Wallabies and All Blacks (in alphabetical order – name and surname, position, franchise/club, Test caps and points):

Forwards (16):

Schalk Brits (Hooker, Unattached), 11, 5 - 1t

Pieter-Steph du Toit (Lock/ loose forward, DHL Western Province), 40, 20 - 4t

Eben Etzebeth (Lock, DHL Western Province), 71, 15 - 3t

Steven Kitshoff (Prop, DHL Western Province), 31, 5 - 1t

Vincent Koch (Prop, Saracens, England), 9, 0

Siya Kolisi (Captain, Flanker, DHL Western Province), 35, 25 - 5t

Wilco Louw (Prop, DHL Western Province), 10, 0

Frans Malherbe (Prop, DHL Western Province), 23, 0

Malcolm Marx (Hooker, Emirates Lions), 18, 20 - 4t

Bongi Mbonambi (Hooker, DHL Western Province), 20, 10 - 2t

Franco Mostert (Lock, Xerox Golden Lions), 24, 5 - 1t

Tendai Mtawarira (Prop, Cell C Sharks), 105, 10 - 2t

Sikhumbuzo Notshe (No 8, DHL Western Province), 4, 0

RG Snyman (Lock, Vodacom Blue Bulls), 6, 0

Marco van Staden (Flanker, Vodacom Blue Bulls), 1, 0

Warren Whiteley (No 8, Xerox Golden Lions), 21, 15 - 3t

*Note: Trevor Nyakane (Prop, Vodacom Blue Bulls) will continue with his conditioning programme under the supervision of the Springbok conditioning staff

Backs (14):

Faf de Klerk (Scrumhalf, Sale Sharks, England), 18, 10 - 2t

Aphiwe Dyantyi (Wing, Xerox Golden Lions), 7, 25 - 5t

André Esterhuizen (Centre, Cell C Sharks), 4, 0

Elton Jantjies (Flyhalf, Xerox Golden Lions), 28, 223 - 2t, 42c, 43p

Willie le Roux (Fullback, Wasps, England), 48, 60 – 12t

Cheslin Kolbe (Utility back, Toulouse, France), 2, 5 - 1t

Jesse Kriel (Centre, Vodacom Blue Bulls), 34, 45 - 9t

Lionel Mapoe (Centre, Xerox Golden Lions), 14, 10 - 2t

Ruhan Nel (Centre, DHL Western Province), uncapped

Sibusiso Nkosi (Wing, Cell C Sharks), 3, 10 - 2t

Embrose Papier (Scrumhalf, Vodacom Blue Bulls), 3, 0