South Africa add Mvovo, Hougaard to squad

South Africa have included Lwazi Mvovo and Francois Hougaard in their squad for their upcoming Rugby Championships encounters against Australia and New Zealand.

Mvovo, who plays for the Super Rugby club Sharks last played for the Springboks during the recent series against Ireland and will replace Ruan Combrinck, who sustained a leg fracture and is expected to be sidelined for six weeks.

Meanwhile, Worcester Warriors' scrum-half Francois Hougaard has made an international comeback after almost two years. Hougaard was also part of the medal winning Springboks sevens team in the recent Rio Olympics.

Apart from the addition of Mvovo and Hougaard, head coach Allister Coetzee has retained the rest of the members in the squad that played against the Pumas last weekend.

Admitting, South Africa will miss Combrinck, Coetzee is hoping both Mvovo and Hougaard will capitalise on the opportunity. The Springboks coach is also wary of the challenge ahead in the upcoming Australasian tour.

“Losing Ruan is a setback for us, but injuries are part of the game and it’s good for us to be able to call on experienced players such as Lwazi and Francois,” said Springbok coach Allister Coetzee.

“We are not happy with where we find ourselves after the first two matches of the campaign. Australia will pose an even tougher challenge and it is important that we deliver a much-improved performance in Brisbane.”

South Africa squad

Lourens Adriaanse, Damian de Allende, Lood de Jager, Juan de Jongh, Faf de Klerk, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Johan Goosen, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Elton Jantjies, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Jaco Kriel, Jesse Kriel, Francois Louw, Lionel Mapoe, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Oupa Mohoje, Franco Mostert, Tendai Mtawarira, Lwazi Mvovo, Trevor Nyakane, Rudy Paige, Morné Steyn, Adriaan Strauss, Warren Whiteley.