Former SA Schools and Junior Springbok captain Salmaan Moerat has earned his first Springbok call-up as one of two uncapped players in the 32-man squad for the November tour of the UK.
The Springboks will play three Test matches – against Wales in Cardiff (6 November), Scotland in Edinburgh (13 November), and England in London (20 November).
Moerat is the only newcomer in Nienaber’s squad that featured in the B&I Lions series and Rugby Championship and will join forces with Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Franco Mostert and Marvin Orie in a strong group of second rowers.
The only other uncapped player in the squad is scrumhalf Grant Williams, who travelled to Australia with the Boks for the Rugby Championship.
The main injury-enforced omissions from Nienaber’s squad, are Faf de Klerk (hip flexor), Cheslin Kolbe (knee), Frans Malherbe (neck) and RG Snyman (knee).
Other players not considered for selection include Pieter-Steph du Toit and Rynhardt Elstadt, who are recovering from a shoulder and ankle injury, respectively.
The squad consist of 18 forwards and 14 backs.
The Springboks will depart for a one-week training camp in France on Friday before making the journey to Cardiff for their opening Test.
Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour:
Props:
Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks) – 13 caps, 0 pts
Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 56 caps, 5pts (1t)
Vincent Koch (Saracens) – 28 caps, 0 pts
Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks) – 6 caps, 0pts
Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls) – 51 caps, 5pts (1t)
Hookers:
Joseph Dweba (Bordeaux Bègles) – 1 cap, 0 pts
Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 43 caps, 45 pts (9t)
Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers) – 45 caps, 45 pts (9t)
Locks:
Lood de Jager (Sale Sharks) – 53 caps, 25 pts (5t)
Eben Etzebeth (Toulon) – 94 caps, 15 pts (3t)
Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers) – Uncapped
Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers) – 7 caps, 0 pts
Loose forwards:
Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 60 caps, 30 pts (6t)
Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo) – 16 caps, 5 pts (1t)
Marco van Staden (Leicester Tigers) – 9 caps, 0 pts
Duane Vermeulen (Ulster) – 58 caps, 15 pts (3t)
Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 8 caps, 0 pts
Utility forward:
Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 48 caps, 5pts (1t)
Scrumhalves:
Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers) – 18 caps, 25 pts (5t)
Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 18 caps, 40pts (8t)
Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks) – Uncapped
Flyhalves:
Elton Jantjies (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes) – 41 caps, 309 pts (2t, 64c, 56p, 1d)
Handre Pollard (Montpellier) – 57 caps, 558 pts (6t, 83c, 120p, 4d)
Midfielders:
Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 23 caps, 25 pts (5t)
Damian de Allende (Munster) – 55 caps, 35 pts (7t)
Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 48 caps, 60 pts (12t)
Outside backs:
Aphelele Fassi (Cell C Sharks) – 2 caps, 10pts (2t)
Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 70 caps, 60 pts (12t)
Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 22 caps, 85 pts (17t)
Sbu Nkosi (Cell C Sharks) – 25 caps, 45 pts (9t)
Utility backs:
Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 14 caps, 5pts (1t)
Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs) – 71 caps, 141pts (11t, 7c, 21p, 3d)
Castle Lager Outgoing Tour fixtures (SA kick-off times):
Saturday, 6 November
7.30pm – Wales vs South Africa (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Saturday, 13 November
2pm – Scotland vs South Africa (BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
Saturday, 20 November
5.15pm – England vs South Africa (Twickenham, London)
Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images
