World Cup-winning quartet back as Springboks name 34-man squad for UK tour
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named a 34-man squad for their upcoming tour to the United Kingdom.
The world champions will play Tests against Scotland in Edinburgh (Sunday 10 November), England in London (Saturday 16 November) and Wales in Cardiff (Saturday 23 November).
The Boks welcome back four Rugby World Cup winners - Damian Willemse (utility back), Andre Esterhuizen (centre), RG Snyman and Franco Mostert (both locks) - after the quartet missed the recent Rugby Championship due to injuries.
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Esterhuizen has recovered from a shoulder injury, Snyman returns from a foot injury, while Mostert (broken leg), and Willemse (finger) are also raring to go.
Notable absentees are flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, lock Salmaan Moerat (both knee injuries), prop Steven Kitshoff (neck) and lock Lood de Jager (shoulder).
The Bok squad, led by Siya Kolisi, will depart for a training camp in Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands between England and France, on Sunday 27 October. They will then make the journey to Edinburgh on Sunday 3 November.
Props: Thomas du Toit (Bath), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Ox Nche (Sharks), Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls)
Hookers: Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks)
Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), RG Snyman (Leinster)
Loose forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Siya Kolisi (captain, Sharks), Elrigh Louw (Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks)
Utility forward: Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls)
Scrumhalves: Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Sharks)