No Cheslin or Faf for Boks as Moerat called up

DHL Stormers lock Salmaan Moerat became the only player outside the group that was in quarantine in Australia for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship to be added to the 31-man Springbok side to tour Wales, Scotland and England next month.

Moerat, who comes in as the Boks are without locks RG Snyman and Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, is one of two uncapped players in the squad named on Tuesday. The other is scrumhalf Grant Williams, who toured with the Springboks to Australia, but has not been capped yet.

There is also no Faf de Klerk in the touring line-up after a hip injury ruled him out of the tour and no Frans Malherbe, who is struggling with a neck injury.

But while some sweeping changes were hoped for by fans, the Boks rather stuck to their tried and tested combinations and will back the same squad that beat the All Blacks and retained their world No 1 ranking at the end of the Rugby Championship.

De Klerk’s absence means it will be a straight fight for the nine jersey between Cobus Reinach and Herschel Jantjies, with Williams providing back-up for the duo.

Malherbe’s required rest means Thomas du Toit returns to the Bok squad after returning home early from the Rugby Champs, and will see him, Vincent Koch and Trevor Nyakane as the options for tighthead, with Steven Kitshoff and Ox Nche on the other side of the scrum.

While the Boks aren’t likely to deviate from the locks that played in the Rugby Championship - Franco Mostert assuming a utility forward role in the absence of Pieter-Steph du Toit through injury - Lood de Jager and Eben Etzebeth are likely to start. Moerat will see the selection as vindication for sustained form, but along with Marvin Orie has some work to do before unseating the two in the starting line-up.

There was some hope that the likes of Evan Roos, Elrigh Louw and others may get a nod for the loose trio, but coach Jacques Nienaber decided to stick to tried and tested, with the Leicester Tigers duo of Jasper Wiese and Marco van Staden backing up the starting trio of captain Siya Kolisi, Kwagga Smith and Duane Vermeulen.

The Boks also have two of the three Du Preez brothers - Jean-Luc and Dan - in action at Sale Sharks and can call on them if needed.

Morne Steyn’s retirement has been handled as expected and with injuries to Johan Goosen and Jordan Hendrikse, the Boks have decided that Damian Willemse and Frans Steyn - both utility backs in the squad, are enough cover for the tour.

In the outside backs, Jesse Kriel’s versatility gets him the nod as he can cover all aspects of the backline as well.

Players who have been left out of the extended squad that toured Australia include Wilco Louw, Johan Grobbelaar, the Du Preez twins, Rynhardt Elstadt, Nkosi and Rosko Specman.

SPRINGBOK SQUAD FOR YEAR-END TOUR:

Props:

Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks)
Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers)
Vincent Koch (Saracens)
Ox Nché (Cell C Sharks)
Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls)

Hookers:

Joseph Dweba (Bordeaux Bègles)
Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears)
Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers)

Locks:

Lood de Jager (Sale Sharks)
Eben Etzebeth (Toulon)
Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers) - Uncapped
Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers)

Loose forwards:

Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks)
Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo)
Marco van Staden (Leicester Tigers)
Duane Vermeulen (Ulster)
Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers)

Utility forward:

Franco Mostert (Honda Heat)

Scrumhalves:

Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers)
Cobus Reinach (Montpellier)
Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks) - Uncapped

Flyhalves:

Elton Jantjies (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes)
Handré Pollard (Montpellier)

Midfielders:

Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks)
Damian de Allende (Munster)
Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles)

Outside backs:

Aphelele Fassi (Cell C Sharks)
Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz)
Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks)
S’bu Nkosi (Cell C Sharks)

Utility Backs:

Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers)
Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs)