Bulls back Johan Goosen has been selected in a 26-man South Africa squad as they prepare for their upcoming Autumn Nations Series games.
Goosen has not played for the Springboks since 2016 but is their only designated fly-half, with Handre Pollard currently injured and Elton Jantjies still in the wilderness after alleged off-field issues.
The Boks will meet up for a three-day camp in Stellenbosch before they take on Ireland, France, Italy and England in the November Tests.
Lack of game time
Jantjies will not take part next month, but director of rugby Rassie Erasmus insists that it is not due to his recent reported incident and instead down to a lack of game time.
“Elton, it is well documented we mutually agreed with him that there was that reporting on him while we were on tour just before an important Test match, so we allowed him to go back to his home and go and handle these personal reports which we didn’t know what was true and what was not true,” Erasmus told reporters.
“We did that and since then he hasn’t played any rugby so for us to be able to select him currently, we just haven’t seen him play.
“What we would love to do is just compare him to the other fly-halves on pure play and his form as we keep road maps on every single player.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t have done this on Elton because he hasn’t played since so no, he won’t be up for selection.”
The full touring squads, which includes the South Africa ‘A’ side, will be announced on October 28.
Their second-string team will be guided by Mzwandile Stick and they will face Munster and Bristol Bears in two midweek games.
Click Here: Marcus Rashford Jersey Sale
Clear objectives
“We are departing for the year-end tour next week Saturday, so it is vital that we get the players back into our structures and our usual training programme so that they are raring to go by the time we depart for Ireland,” head coach Jacques Nienaber said.
“There are some players who didn’t get much game time in the Rugby Championship and who will benefit immensely from the additional game time next week in the United Rugby Championship, while it is important for the Japanese-based players to get back to national training.
“It may be a short camp, but we have clear objectives, and we know what boxes we need to tick as we look forward to what is going to be a challenging year-end tour.
“We are facing the No 1 and No 2 teams in the world in Ireland and France, and then we line up against Italy and England, both of whom will test us to the limit, so the sooner we get into the swing of things, the better.”
The Japanese-based players have been granted permission to face England in the final match of the tour as it falls outside the international window.
The English and French-based players, who won’t be available for that clash, will be released to their clubs after the Italy clash.
“I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the Japanese clubs for their co-operation in granting us permission to select the national players plying their trade in Japan for the England Test,” said Nienaber.
“We said from the start of the season that we need to use every opportunity to build momentum and squad depth with an eye on the World Cup next year, and that match plays a vital role in this process as England will enter the international spectacle as one of the top teams to watch.”
South Africa’s 26-man squad for a three-day training camp
Forwards: Thomas du Toit, Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Salmaan Moerat, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Deon Fourie, Franco Mostert
Backs: Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse, Johan Goosen, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Willie le Roux, Makazole Mapimpi, Canan Moodie, Sbu Nkosi, Damian Willemse
