Flyhalf Handré Pollard was a surprise inclusion in the Springbok squad for the Australasian leg of the Rugby Championship.
Pollard has played fewer than 80 minutes of rugby in the past 16 months due to severe ankle and knee injuries‚ but has been in rehabilitation and training with the Bulls in recent weeks.
He has played 20 Tests and scored 188 points‚ and despite his age‚ brings added experience to the backline.
Talented Sharks play-maker Curwin Bosch‚ who made his Test debut against the Pumas in Port Elizabeth two weeks ago‚ drops out to accommodate Pollard.
Western Province utility back Dillyn Leyds and fit-again scrumhalf Ross Cronje were also added to the group after missing the brief tour to Argentina where the Boks beat the Pumas 41-23.
Leyds is preferred to centre Francois Venter‚ who will not tour.
He will no doubt be hastened into the Cheetahs squad for Friday’s PRO 14 opener against Ulster in Belfast while Jano Vermaak makes way for Cronje’s return.
"Handré was really impressive during the two weeks he spent with us in Port Elizabeth‚" coach Allister Coetzee said.
"Even though he was fit and available for the away match against Argentina in Salta‚ we made a decision that another week of conditioning will be beneficial for him. I believe he is fit and ready to go and he will be utilised in a versatile role‚ covering centre too.
"He is the kind of player that really thrives in the Springbok environment and is very coachable. It must be said that he also made huge improvement in terms of his skill levels and the understanding of this team’s technical plan," Coetzee said.
"Curwin has grown a lot during his time with us‚ and all our coaches are pleased with his current development. He knows what is expected of him in this environment‚ and like I said before‚ it is my responsibility to manage him properly at international level. We would like to see him carry the confidence he has gained during his time with Springboks into the Currie Cup."
The versatile Leyds featured in the three-Test series against France in June and has played consistently well since returning to Western Province‚ paving the way for his Springbok return.
"Dillyn covers wing‚ fullback and if needed he can slot into to flyhalf as well. He has continued to impress while playing for his province in the Currie Cup competition‚" said Coetzee.
Meanwhile‚ the Springboks will know the full extent of the rib injury to prop Coenie Oosthuizen by Wednesday. He is scheduled to undergo a scan later on Tuesday.
The rest of the touring squad to Argentina was kept unchanged for the next two away matches in Australia and New Zealand.
The Springboks face the Wallabies in Perth on September 9 and meet the All Blacks a week later in Albany.
The Springbok squad to tour Australia and New Zealand:
Forwards: Uzair Cassiem (flank): three caps‚ five points from one try; Lood de Jager (lock): 29 caps‚ 20 points from four tries; Ruan Dreyer (prop): one cap‚ no points; Dan du Preez (No 8): uncapped; Jean-Luc du Preez (loose forward): six caps‚ five points from one try; Pieter-Steph du Toit (lock): 25 caps‚ 20 points from four tries; Eben Etzebeth (lock): 59 caps‚ 15 points from three tries; Steven Kitshoff (prop): 15 caps‚ no points; Siya Kolisi (flank): 21 caps‚ 20 points from four tries; Jaco Kriel (loose forward): 10 caps‚ no points; Malcolm Marx (hooker): seven caps‚ five points from one try; Bongi Mbonambi (hooker): 10 caps‚ no points; Franco Mostert (lock): 12 caps‚ no points; Tendai Mtawarira (prop): 92 caps‚ 10 points from two tries; Trevor Nyakane (prop): 30 caps‚ five points from one try; Coenie Oosthuizen (prop): 28 caps‚ 20 points from four tries; Chiliboy Ralepelle (hooker): 22 caps‚ five points from one try
Backs: Andries Coetzee (fullback): five caps‚ no points; Ross Cronje (scrumhalf): three caps‚ five points from one try; Damian de Allende (centre): 24 caps‚ 15 points from three tries; Francois Hougaard (scrumhalf): 44 caps‚ 25 points from five tries; Elton Jantjies (flyhalf): 16 caps‚ 166 points from two tries‚ 30 conversions‚ 32 penalties; Jesse Kriel (centre): 21 caps‚ 25 points from five tries; Dillyn Leyds (utility back): three caps‚ no points; Rudy Paige (scrumhalf): nine caps‚ five points from one try; Handré Pollard (flyhalf): 20 caps‚ 188 points from two tries‚ 29 conversions‚ 37 penalties‚ three drop goals; Raymond Rhule (wing): five caps‚ five points from one try; Jan Serfontein (centre): 30 caps‚ 20 points from four tries; Courtnall Skosan (wing): five caps‚ five points from one try.
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