South Africa name 34-man squad for Rugby Championship games against Australia

South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber has named a 34-man squad for the Rugby Championship games against Australia.

Stormers number eight Evan Roos, who had an outstanding 2021/22 season of the United Rugby Championship has been left out with Duane Vermeulen retaining his place along with Jasper Wiese.

Malcolm Marx and Joseph Dweba are the hookers in the squad with Deon Fourie providing back up as Bongi Mbonambi is sidelined with a knee injury.

With Kurt-Lee Arendse unavailable due to a suspension, Jacques Nienaber has called up uncapped Canan Moodie to the squad.

“We have been working with a large group of players for the last few months and we believe this will pay off in the long run as we look to expand our depth for the Rugby World Cup and beyond,” said Nienaber.

“Since we are going on tour, however, we will take a group of players that is more in line with the size of a Rugby World Cup squad, and our thought process is that we will have two groups of players – one who will participate in the Australian leg of the competition and another for the Argentina matches.

“This way we can manage the players as well as possible on tour, while at the same time ensuring we continue to develop our depth and give the players opportunities to prove themselves with a little over a year to go before the Rugby World Cup kicks off.”

South Africa squad:

Forwards: Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Frans Malherbe, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane, Joseph Dweba, Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (c), Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Jasper Wiese, Duane Vermeulen, Deon Fourie, Franco Mostert

Backs: Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse, Herschel Jantjies, Cobus Reinach, Elton Jantjies, Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Warrick Gelant, Damian Willemse, Jesse Kriel, Frans Steyn