South Africa name nine uncapped players in expansive squad

CAPE TOWN :Nine uncapped players have been named in an expansive 54-man South Africa squad for the first four of the country's 14 international matches this year.

Coach Rassie Erasmus on Thursday retained 31 of the squad that won the 2023 World Cup in a sign of continuity but has also made clear he intended using tests against the Barbarians, Italy and Georgia to try out new prospects.

The uncapped players include Northampton Saints eighthman Juarno Augustus and hooker Marnus van der Merwe from Scarlets in Wales plus locally-based prop forwards Neethling Fouche and Asenathi Ntlabakanye, flanks Renzo du Plessis and Vincent Tshituka and utility forward Cobus Wiese, whose brother Jasper is a regular in the squad.

The new backs are Sharks centre Ethan Hooker and Ntokozo Makhaza, who has been selected from university rugby without any franchise experience.

The squad assembled on Sunday except for players still involved in the closing stages of the United Rugby Championship or English Premiership.

“We are excited to have the luxury of announcing a squad with so much depth and talent,” Erasmus said in a statement.

“Having an expanded squad will not only afford us the opportunity to have productive training sessions, but it will also bode well for the younger players in the group to learn from the senior players, many of whom are Rugby World Cup champions."

South Africa used 50 players last season in an attempt to balance the load and build towards the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

“With a few more talented youngsters in this group, we hope that they will learn valuable lessons and stake a strong claim for places in what will be a challenging, yet exciting season,” the coach added.

Frans Malherbe, Elrigh Louw, Ben-Jason Dixon, Deon Fourie