The 7 unluckiest players to miss out on the Springbok squad

Unsurprisingly, the entire 2019 Rugby World Cup-winning squad, except for the retired trio of Tendai Mtawarira, Francois Louw and Schalk Brits, and the injured Warrick Gelant, were named in Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber’s squad for the British and Irish Lions Series  Georgia internationals.

While the likes of Frans Steyn and Morné Steyn in line to face the Lions for second time, we take a look at the players who unlucky not to have been included.

Marcell Coetzee

One of the most puzzling calls from Jacques Nienaber. Marcell Coetzee was in incredible form for Ulster before injury struck and he moved back to South Africa to join the Bulls. 

While Rassie Erasmus did highlight the fact that Coetzee had just returned from his injury to feature for the Bulls on Friday, Coetzee is proven test quality and hardly looked off the pace against the Stormers.

Jasper Wiese has been superb for Leicester Tigers in the Premiership and the du Preez twins can both cover no.8, Coetzee can still count himself unlucky. 

He looked a sure replacement for Francois Louw in the squad. He may get a look in with injuries but unlucky not to get a call from the get go.

Jaden Hendrikse

The young scrumhalf seems to have nailed on the starting jumper at the Sharks but it was his fellow teammate at the Durban-based, Sanele Nohamba, who got the call for the Springboks. 

Hendrikse has been in outstanding form for the Sharks and his exclusion will certainly raise a few eyebrows.

Cornal Hendricks

Hendricks journey is an inspiring one and his rise back to the top with the Bulls would have been well and truly capped off with a well-deserved recall to the Springbok squad.

His positional switch from wing to centre under Jake White has been a stellar one, to say the least.

Andre Esterhuizen

Esterhuizen narrowly missed out on a place in the 2019 Rugby World Cup squad and misses out once again for the Springboks.

His suspension has certainly not aided his cause but his form prior to that with Harlequins certainly deserved a look into the side.

With the likes of Damian de Allende and Frans Steyn in the squad, it is understandable for him to miss out but still a tough call for the Quins centre.

Curwin Bosch

A standout for the Sharks since the Rugby World Cup concluded in 2019, Bosch has all the skills to make at test rugby. However, it seems that Nienaber and co. believe it is still too soon for the pivot.

Damian Willemse has been picked ahead of the Sharks' playmaker with the pair playing similar games and can both cover flyhalf and fullback.

Elrich Louw

A test call up that would have capped off a stellar break out season. Louw looks destined to be a Springbok but the Lions Series may just be too soon for the Bulls back-rower.

Lizo Gqoboka

Another player who narrowly missed out on a place in the Springbok 2019 Rugby World Cup squad. Gqoboka has been a driving force in a dominant Bulls pack since Jake White took over at the Pretoria-based franchise.

His exclusion is certainly surprising but he looks to have lost out to Ox Nché and Coenie Oosthuizen.

The likes of Thomas du Toit, Trevor Nyakane and Coenie Oosthuizen all offer the Springboks options on either side of the scrum.