Last week, the Springboks confirmed the injury withdrawal of utility forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels, with Johan Grobbelaar (hooker) and Wilco Louw (prop) called up to the touring squad.
This past weekend, it was then confirmed that Cameron Hanekom had been drafted into Rassie Erasmus’ 35-man group after a serious injury to Damian Willemse during the Stormers’ URC game in Stellenbosch.
In that same game, it was reported that veteran prop Frans Malherbe also picked up an injury, and according to Rugby365 he was unable to take up his place in the squad that departed for a training camp in Jersey on Sunday.
This has not been confirmed by SA Rugby as yet, but it will be interesting to see who might be called up as Vincent Koch and Louw are now the only two specialist tighthead props in the group, although Thomas du Toit can play on both sides of the front row.
Latest Springbok squad:
Props: Thomas du Toit (Bath), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls).
Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), RG Snyman (Leinster).
Loose forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Scrumhalves: Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers).
Centres: Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).
Outside backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls).