Western Province outside centre Ruhan Nel is the latest Sevens player to have been called up to the national team’s XV-man code.
With ex-Blitzboks teammate Cheslin Kolbe also getting a call from coach Rassie Erasmus earlier in the Rugby Championship, the uncapped Nel has joined fit-again wing Sbu Nkosi, Saracens tighthead prop Vincent Koch, Bulls No.9 Ivan van Zyl and Lions centre Lionel Mapoe as the additions to the Bok squad.
South Africa next face Australia in Port Elizabeth on Saturday and after a string of good performances in the Currie Cup, Nel has to prove to Erasmus in training this week that he can fit in with his plans to have a shot at taking the field in the Green and Gold.
The coach explains: “Ruhan comes with a lot of international experience with the Blitzboks and he has performed consistently well for WP, so it will be good to see how he operates in the Bok environment.”
With both midfielders that played in their heroic 36-34 win over New Zealand two weeks ago injured, it will be interesting to see who Erasmus selects.
His midfield options are volop at the moment, with Andre Esterhuizen, Jesse Kriel, Lionel Mapoe and Nel all listed as possible options.
Bulls prop Trevor Nyakane also joined the squad, but he will continue his conditioning programme under the watchful eyes of the national camp’s medical staff.
Erasmus adds: “Trevor and Sbu have been part of the squad earlier in the year and it’s good to welcome them back, while the players who featured for their provinces in recent weeks all got some valuable game time.”
Another option available to the Bok boss is to play two flyhalves in Handre Pollard and Elton Jantjies and then use the former as inside centre.
The coach will name his squad for the Eastern Cape showdown on Thursday.
Springbok squad
Forwards:
Schalk Brits, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi (captain), Wilco Louw, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Tendai Mtawarira, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, RG Snyman, Marco van Staden, Warren Whiteley.
Backs:
Faf de Klerk, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Andre Esterhuizen, Elton Jantjies, Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Lionel Mapoe, Ruhan Nel, Sibusiso Nkosi, Embrose Papier, Handre Pollard, Ivan van Zyl, Damian Willemse.