There is no Duane Vermeulen and several surprises as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber namestrong side of 35 players for the team’s tour of Europe.
Vermeulen’s absence was a glaring omission in the 35 names that will leave on Saturday for tests against Ireland, France, Italy and England in the final northern hemisphere tour before next year’s defence of their Rugby World Cup title.
The big No 8, who has been in and out of the Bok team this season, has been left to recover and play for Ulster as the Boks look to other options in the loose trio.
As expected the Stormers duo of Sacha Mngomezulu and Manie Libbok will fill the void left by injuries to Frans Steyn and Handre Pollard to bolster the thin stocks at 10, but there were a few other surprises in the selections as well.
The injury to Elrigh Louw has opened up a few options for Nienaber and co to explore, and while some may be surprised, the form shown by former Bulls lock Jason Jenkins, now with Leinster, has earned him a call-up and could be a trump card for the Boks in the tests in November.
Jenkins has always been on the fringes of selection, but his robust, physical play has earned him a spot in the squad, and his versatility - he can also play blindside flank - should not be underestimated. He certainly can make an impression.
Also in the side with a recall is Marco van Staden, who recently returned to the Bulls from Leicester Tigers and has impressed in his few outings thus far for the Pretoria team. Van Staden, like Deon Fourie, adds something special in terms of attacking the breakdown and it is clear the Boks are keeping with their mantra of being consistent in their selection. They’ve worked with Van Staden before and have brought him back for a purpose.
Evan Roos’ inclusion is also as a direct result of the depth they have in the loose forwards, and while Vermeulen isn’t there, it allows the Boks to explore a few other options that may come in handy at the World Cup.
Jasper Wiese and Kwagga Smith are likely to vie for the starting roles in the team as it rolls through Europe while there are now a plethora of options for the loose trio balance.
Seven of these players will head to the SA A team when they leave on November 5 for their two midweek games of the tour, so it may even be that both Mngomezulu and Libbok may not even play for the Boks if they feel they have sufficient cover.
Either way it will be a great learning school for both players as they continue their good form for the season.
Looking at the rest of the squad it is a familiar look, with Vincent Koch providing the sixth prop position while the team have only named two hookers - with the third choice, which has been Joseph Dweba this season - likely to be called in from the A side tour if needed.
If there is a position other than flyhalf that looks a bit thin, then it is outside centre, where Jessie Kriel is the only out and out 13 in the side but at the back there is exceptional depth with Cheslin Kolbe in fine form in the Top 14 and others like Makazole Mapimpi, S’bu Nkosi and Kurt-Lee Arendse all supplying pace on the outside.
Springbok squad:
Props:<?b> Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks), Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), Vincent Koch (unattached), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92)
Hookers:<?b> Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks)
Locks: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks), Jason Jenkins (Leinster), Salmaan Moerat, Marvin Orie (both DHL Stormers)
Loose forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Siya Kolisi (Cell C Sharks), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers)
Utility forwards: Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat)
Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier)
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok, Damian Willemse (both DHL Stormers)
Centres: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles)
Outside backs: Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), Sbu Nkosi (Vodacom Bulls)
Utility backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon), Sacha Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers)