Nkosi, Schreuder and Louw added to Springbok squad

Experienced flanker Francois Louw and the uncapped Sharks duo of S’busiso Nkosi (wing) and Louis Schreuder (scrumhalf) have been included in the Springbok squad for the two remaining home matches of the 2017 Rugby Championship.

Louw has played in 52 Tests for the Springboks and earns a recall to the squad after missing out on the June Tests due to a shoulder injury. He underwent a shoulder operation in May which ruled him out of the series against France.

Former Junior Springbok Nkosi is a strong performer on the wing for the Sharks in the Currie Cup to date after an impressive debut season in Super Rugby. The 21-year-old is currently the joint top try scorer in the Currie Cup competition.

The 27-year old Schreuder is included as one of three scrum-halves in the group of 30 players. The No 9, a Springbok tourist in 2013, has continued with his good performances for the Sharks since joining the Durban-based province from the Southern Kings before the Currie Cup.

Schreuder, a star in Super Rugby for the Southern Kings this year, replaces Francois Hougaard in the only change to the squad that returned from Australasia on Sunday.

Several Springbok regulars were not considered for selection because of injury. Coenie Oosthuizen suffered a broken arm in Perth against Australia two weeks ago, while flanker Jaco Kriel sustained a shoulder injury in the same match. He underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair the damage to his shoulder and will be out of action for the rest of the year.

Warren Whiteley is still recovering from his groin operation, and Frans Malherbe (prop, neck) is also still out, while Oupa Mohoje is scheduled to return to the playing field this weekend after spending the last month sidelined with a rib injury.

The Springbok squad for the Tests in Bloemfontein and Cape Town:

Forwards (17 players):

Uzair Cassiem (flank), Toyota Cheetahs – 5 caps, 5 points (1 try)

Lood de Jager (lock), Vodacom Bulls – 31 caps, 20 points (4 tries)

Ruan Dreyer (prop), Emirates Lions – 2 caps, 0 points

Dan du Preez (No 8), Cell C Sharks - 0 caps, 0 points

Jean-Luc du Preez (loose forward), Cell C Sharks – 8 caps, 5 points (1 try)

Pieter-Steph du Toit (lock), DHL Stormers – 27 caps, 20 points (4 tries)

Eben Etzebeth (lock, captain), DHL Stormers – 61 caps, 15 points (3 tries)

Steven Kitshoff (prop), DHL Stormers – 17 caps, 0 points

Siya Kolisi (flank), DHL Stormers – 23 caps, 20 points (4 tries)

Francois Louw (flank), Bath, England – 52 caps, 40 points (8 tries)

Wilco Louw (prop) DHL Stormers – 0 caps, 0 points

Malcolm Marx (hooker), Emirates Lions – 9 caps, 10 points (2 tries)

Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), DHL Stormers – 11 caps; 0 points

Franco Mostert (lock), Emirates Lions/Ricoh Black Rams (Jap) – 13 caps, 0 points

Tendai Mtawarira (prop), Cell C Sharks – 94 caps, 10 points (2 tries)

Trevor Nyakane (prop), Vodacom Bulls – 32 caps, 5 points (1 try)

Chiliboy Ralepelle (hooker), Cell C Sharks – 22 caps, 5 points (1 try)

Backs (13 players):

Andries Coetzee (fullback), Emirates Lions – 7 caps, 0 points

Ross Cronje (scrumhalf) Emirates Lions – 4 caps, 5 points (1 try)

Damian de Allende (centre), DHL Stormers – 25 caps, 15 points (3 tries)

Elton Jantjies (flyhalf), Emirates Lions/NTT Shining Arcs (Japan) – 18 caps, 179 points (2 tries, 32 conversions, 35 penalties)

Jesse Kriel (centre), Vodacom Bulls – 23 caps, 30 points (6 tries)

Dillyn Leyds (wing) DHL Stormers – 3 caps, 0 points

Rudy Paige (scrumhalf), Vodacom Bulls – 10 caps, 5 points (1 try)

Handré Pollard (flyhalf) Vodacom Bulls – 21 caps, 188 points (2 tries, 29 conversions, 37 penalties, 3 drop goals)

Raymond Rhule (wing), Toyota Cheetahs – 7 caps, 5 points (1 try)

Louis Schreuder (scrumhalf) Cell C Sharks – uncapped

Jan Serfontein (centre), Vodacom Bulls – 33 caps, 20 points (4 tries)

Courtnall Skosan (wing), Emirates Lions – 7 caps, 5 points (1 try)

S’busiso Nkosi (wing), Cell C Sharks – uncapped