Following an impressive showing from the Springboks in their 46-10 victory over a World XV team on Saturday, the South African selectors have finalised the squad that will travel for Castle Lager Rugby Championship duty in Australia.

The Rugby Championship, which involves the four southern hemisphere teams of South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina, begins this coming weekend with the Springboks taking on the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday.

The squad of 31 players includes 22 members of the team that was involved in the World XV match at Newlands in Cape Town.

Springbok captain Jean de Villiers will not be travelling down under with the squad, as he recently made his return from injury, and will play for club side DHL Western Province to gain valuable game time and prepare for the Rugby World Cup in September.

Heyneke Meyer’s touring squad will include a number of players who did not take part in the World XV match. These players are Lionel Mapoe, Lwazi Mvovo, Rudy Paige, Jan Serfontein, Morne Steyn, Schalk Brits, Lood de Jager, Frans Malherbe and Heinke van der Merwe.

Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts, Frans Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Steven Kitshoff were not in contention for the Rugby Championship team, as they are currently working to recover from injury.

The remaining Springbok players who are not included in the touring squad will continue their rehabilitation and conditioning efforts at a camp in Pretoria.

 

Springbok Squad For Australia Match

Forwards: Schalk Brits, Schalk Burger, Marcell Coetzee, Lood de Jager, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Francois Louw, Frans Malherbe, Victor Matfield, Teboho Mohoje, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Adriaan Strauss, Heinke van der Merwe, Warren Whiteley.

Backs: Damian De Allende, Bryan Habana, Jesse Kriel, Patrick Lambie, Willie le Roux, Lionel Mapoe, Lwazi Mvovo, Rudy Paige, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Handré Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Jan Serfontein, Morne Steyn.