Twenty-nine of the 36 players named for the touring party were part of the Rugby Championship squad. They will be joined by the uncapped quintet of Robbie Coetzee, Julian Redelinghuys, Nizaam Carr, Jaco Kriel and Seabelo Senatla, while Coenie Oosthuizen and Johan Goosen have been recalled to the squad for the tour of four Tests.
“It’s wonderful to have this kind of continuity in selection, while the five uncapped players in the squad have all been rewarded for superb form throughout the season,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
“Many of the selected players were at our training camp in Stellenbosch last week where we put in a lot of very hard work. We’ll have to hit the ground running when we assemble in Johannesburg on Wednesday before we depart on what will be a challenging tour.
“We start against the Six Nations champions in Dublin and then take on England, who have been on an upward curve over the last couple of years. Italy is always a tough customer at home and the Welsh have probably been one of the most consistent teams in the last number of seasons.”
None of the Springboks’ overseas-based players will be available for the final match of the tour, against Wales in Cardiff on November 29th, as it falls outside the international Test window.
SOUTH AFRICA SQUAD – Forwards: Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger, Nizaam Carr, Marcell Coetzee, Robbie Coetzee, Lodewyk de Jager, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Jaco Kriel, Victor Matfield, Teboho Mohoje, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Coenie Oosthuizen, Julian Redelinghuys, Gurthre Steenkamp, Adriaan Strauss, Duane Vermeulen, Warren Whiteley
Backs: Damian De Allende, Jean de Villiers, Johan Goosen, Bryan Habana, Cornal Hendricks, Francois Hougaard, Patrick Lambie, Willie le Roux, Lwazi Mvovo, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Seabelo Senatla, Jan Serfontein, Morne Steyn.
