Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has called up the hele overseas-based stars for an alignment camp that kicked off in Pretoria on Sunday.
A total of nine players in the squad of 26 play their trade overseas. Among them are former Sharks trio flanker Marcell Coetzee, utility back Frans Steyn and scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, while Erasmus also decided to take a closer look at ex-Stormers player Rynhardt Elstadt.
He isn’t the only ex-Capetonian that got a look-in, with prop Vincent Koch also in the mix.
Welcome back to sunny South Africa guys! ☀️ #Day1 @c_reinach, @fafdeklerk and @wjjleroux in training camp with the @Springboks in Pretoria. #LoveRugby pic.twitter.com/yBF5r5oxHq
— Springboks (@Springboks) June 24, 2019
Of the current crop of Stormers, scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies will be smiling from ear to ear after being given the chance to impress Erasmus, while the Bok coach also didn’t forget about forgotten wing-cum-fullback Dillyn Leyds.
Another player who is finally being considered for the national team is Lions flanker Kwagga Smith, who has been banging on the door for a number of seasons already.
Springbok training camp #Day1
💪Gym session #LoveRugby pic.twitter.com/9q2qkPqgB9
— Springboks (@Springboks) June 24, 2019
Bulls and Sharks players will be added to the squad next week.
Alignment camp squad
Forwards: Schalk Brits (Bulls), Marcell Coetzee (Ulster, Ireland), Lood de Jager (Bulls), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), Rynardt Elstadt (Toulouse, France), Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), Steven Kitshoff (Stormers), Vincent Koch (Saracens, England), Siya Kolisi (Stormers), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Lions), Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers), Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Gloucester), Marvin Orie (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Lions).
Backs: Damian de Allende (Stormers), Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks), Aphiwe Dyantyi (Lions), Elton Jantjies (Lions), Herschel Jantjies (Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse), Dillyn Leyds (Stormers), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz), Cobus Reinach (Northampton Saints), Frans Steyn (Montpellier).