Bongi Mbonambi replaced in Bok squad by double World Cup winner

Experienced scrumhalf Faf de Klerk has linked up with the Springboks in New Zealand as additional cover at No9 for the second leg of their Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign.

His arrival boosts the touring group to 36 players, after hooker Bongi Mbonambi stayed behind in South Africa earlier this week “to attend to family matters”.

South Africa open their tour against the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday, September 6. They then travel south to Wellington for a second meeting at Sky Stadium on September 13.

De Klerk’s additon follows the return of captain Siya Kolisi and fellow back-row Pieter-Steph du Toit. Both missed the recent win over Australia.

Kolisi had been sidelined by a knee injury and du Toit was recovering from a head knock, but both have now been declared fit to face New Zealand.

Willie le Roux and Jan-Hendrik Wessels are also back in contention after recovering from niggles that ruled them out of the second Test against the Wallabies. Their reinforcements come as wingers Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe miss out with knee and ankle injuries respectively, with Makazole Mapimpi recalled.

Jasper Wiese has been named in the squad after serving his suspension from July’s Italy Test, though the No8 will not be available for selection at Eden Park. His brother Cobus Wiese remains on standby.

“Siya (Kolisi, Springbok captain), Pieter-Steph (du Toit), Willie (le Roux), and Jan-Hendrik (Wessels) have been medically cleared from their niggles, while all the players who faced Australia in Cape Town have received a clean bill of health and will be ready to face the All Blacks,” said head coach Rassie Erasmus.

Springboks squad to tour New Zealand:

Forwards: Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Thomas du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Marnus van der Merwe, Marco van Staden, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Jasper Wiese

Backs: Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Makazole Mapimpi, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg, Grant Williams, Damian Willemse, Faf de Klerk