The Albany Gazette - Springboks pick six uncapped players for Nations Championship

The record four-time Rugby World Cup winners will next month face Italy in Turin, France in Paris and Ireland in Dublin, then play an opponent to be decided during the competition climax in London.

Full-back Luan Giliomee, wing Sebastian de Klerk, centre Markus Muller and fly-half Yaqeen Ahmed have been included among 17 backs.

Lock Riley Norton and loose forward Emmanuel Tshituka were chosen among 20 forwards, with another loose forward, Siya Kolisi, captaining the reigning world champions.

All six are based in South Africa with Muller, Ahmed and Norton with the Stormers, Giliomee and De Klerk at the Bulls and Tshituka with the Sharks.

Injuries ruled star wing Cheslin Kolbe, fly-half Handre Pollard, lock Eben Etzebeth and centre/flanker Andre Esterhuizen out of the four-match tour.

"We have had all six players on our radar for a while now, and they have delivered consistently for their respective franchises in the last two seasons," said Erasmus.

"They thoroughly deserve their call-ups. We have seen what most of them are capable of first hand in our season-opening matches and at our training camps.

"So we are delighted to see what they have to offer on this tour. Building squad depth has always been one of our key pillars as a team."

South Africa defeated England, Scotland and Wales in the first part of the Nations Championship to top the southern hemisphere table on points difference from New Zealand.

The Springboks have played nine matches this year, winning seven. The losses came against New Zealand in Johannesburg and Australia in Perth.

South Africa head to Europe after a 3-1 series victory over arch rivals New Zealand.

Last month, they went down 42-38 to Australia, albeit with a team that contained only one regular first-choice player, veteran Etzebeth.

Squad

Forwards: Thomas du Toit, Ox Nche, Wilco Louw, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Zachary Porthen, Gerhard Steenekamp, Malcolm Marx, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Lood de Jager, Salmaan Moerat, Ruan Nortje, Riley Norton, Franco Mostert, Paul de Villiers, Siya Kolisi (capt), Cameron Hanekom, Emmanuel Tshituka, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marco van Staden

Backs: Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg, Grant Williams, Yaqeen Ahmed, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Luan Giliomee, Manie Libbok, Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel, Markus Muller, Canan Moodie, Sebastian de Klerk, Aphelele Fassi, Ethan Hooker, Edwill van der Merwe, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian Willemse

Coach: Rassie Erasmus (RSA)

(F.Allen--TAG)