Injury to Am forces Springboks into call-up

Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has been forced to bring in extra injury cover for Lukhanyo Am, who is unlikely to be fit for the first two Tests of their November tour to Europe.

Am sustained a fractured arm in the win against the All Blacks in Wellington last month and indications are that he will not be ready for the Tests against England, on Saturday 3 November at Twickenham, and a week later against France in Paris on 10 November.

As a result, Lionel Mapoe, capped 14 times for South Africa, was added to the Springbok training squad currently preparing in Stellenbosch.

The 20-man squad, minus lock Franco Mostert, who appears to be in a curious tug-of-war between the Johannesburg-based Lions and English Premiership club Gloucester, have been fine-tuning preparations ahead of the trip north.

The final tour squad is named after the 2018 Currie Cup Final on Saturday evening, between DHL Western Province and the Cell C Sharks.

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