New Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus appeared set to make sweeping changes from the disastrous tenure of predecessor Allister Coetzee as he gave 17 uncapped players a chance in his first squad selection yesterday.
As well as trying out a large number of untested players, Erasmus also recalled some experienced veterans who had been out of the frame after moving to overseas clubs. Those are hooker Bismarck du Plessis, No. 8 Duane Vermeulen, utility back Frans Steyn and fullback Willie le Roux.
The 34-year-old du Plessis, in particular, was a surprise inclusion, although his return may have been helped by the injury absence of current first choice No. 2 Malcolm Marx. Among the new players, three of the four halfbacks Erasmus went with are uncapped, Embrose Papier and Ivan van Zyl of the Bulls, and Cameron Wright of the Sharks.
South Africa's decision to relax restrictions on selecting players who play overseas and have fewer than 30 test caps also allowed Erasmus to recall another halfback, Faf de Klerk.
Erasmus didn't name a captain to stand in for injured No. 8 Warren Whiteley but is expected to announce that tonight , when the squad will likely be trimmed.
