DHL Stormers playmakers Manie Libbok and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu earned their first Test call-ups on Friday, as Jacques Nienaber sprung a surprise in his Springbok squad for the November tour to Europe.
Leinster-based Jason Jenkins is back in the national set-up four years after making his Test debut, with Libbok and Feinberg-Mngomezulu the only uncapped players in Nienaber’s 35-man squad.
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Openside flank Marco van Staden also returns, having last featured in the green and gold against the All Blacks on 25 September, 2021, but World Cup hero Duane Vermeulen is a notable omission.
On the selection of Libbok, Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Jenkins, Nienaber said: “Manie and Sacha have shown what they are capable of at Vodacom United Rugby Championship and Junior Springbok level, while Jason has been in fine form for Leinster, and we are thrilled to see them being called up to what is a largely settled squad.”
South Africa A coach Mzwandile Stick, meanwhile, included nine capped Boks in a 19-man squad that will travel to Ireland next Saturday for a two-match tour against Munster and the Bristol Bears, where they will be joined by seven players from Nienaber’s squad following the Boks’ opening Test against the top-ranked team in the world, Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, 5 November.
It will be followed by another three internationals for the Boks against France in Marseille on 12 November, Italy in Genoa on 19 November and England in London on 26 November.
This will see the Springbok squad comprise of 28 players and the SA ‘A’ team 26 players.
Stick was also excited about the group of players that will travel with the SA A team: “With this group of players, we will be able to select quality match-day squads for both matches with some capped Springboks and enthusiastic, talented, young players, and I cannot wait to work with this group.
“For some players this will serve as a golden opportunity to throw their names into the hat for selection for the World Cup, while others will want to reinforce the faith the Bok coaches have had in them in the last few years, and it doesn’t get more exciting than that as a coach.
“I’ve worked with some of these players at Junior Springbok level and a few more during the Green and Gold Showdown in 2020, and I have full faith in the talent within the squad and the players’ abilities.”
The full Springbok squad will assemble in Dublin on Monday, while the SA A players are set to depart for Cork next weekend to begin their preparations for the midweek games, where they will be joined by some of the coaches and players from the Bok squad.
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Springbok squad:
Props: Thomas du Toit (Sharks), Steven Kitshoff (Stormers), Vincent Koch (Stade Francais), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Ox Nche (Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92)
Hookers: Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks)
Locks: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Jason Jenkins (Leinster), Salmaan Moerat, Marvin Orie (both Stormers)
Loose forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Evan Roos (Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers)
Utility forwards: Deon Fourie (Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat)
Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier)
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok, Damian Willemse (both Stormers)
Centres: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles)
Outside backs: Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Sbu Nkosi (Bulls)
Utility backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers)
SA A squad:
Forwards: Simphiwe Matanzima (Bulls), Ntuthuko Mchunu (Sharks), Sazi Sandi (Stormers), Mornay Smith (Bulls), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls), Joseph Dweba (Stormers), Andre-Hugo Venter (Stormers), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Phepsi Buthelezi (Sharks), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Sharks). Backs: Herschel Jantjies (Stormers), Sanele Nohamba (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Johan Goosen (Bulls), Gianni Lombard (Lions), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Cornal Hendricks (Bulls), Suleiman Hartzenberg (Stormers), Henco van Wyk (Lions).
Photo: @Springboks/Twitter
