Twenty-two of the 33 players are World Cup-winners, while five 2024 debutants are included in the squad in Jan-Hendrik Wessels (utility forward), Johan Grobbelaar (hooker), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (utility back), Ben-Jason Dixon (utility forward) and Morne van den Berg (scrumhalf).
The only newcomer to the group is lock Ruan Nortje, who made his Springbok debut against Wales in 2022 and represented the SA 'A' side in November that year. The Vodacom Bulls captain replaces the injured Franco Mostert, who suffered a leg fracture in the second Test against Ireland.
Malcolm Marx, who also suffered a leg bone injury at Kings Park, has been included in the squad, but veteran scrumhalf De Klerk has been ruled out by an undisclosed injury.
There is no space in the squad for Evan Roos, after the DHL Stormers No 8 started in the Test against Portugal in Bloemfontein. With Jasper Wiese still suspended, this leaves the Springboks choosing between Kwagga Smith and Elrigh Louw to start at No 8 against the Wallabies.
All the other players featured in the team's opening four Tests of the season against Wales at Twickenham or during the Incoming Series.
Among the players not considered for selection due to injury or rehab were Jean Kleyn, Lood de Jager and Mostert (all locks), Steven Kitshoff (prop), De Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse, Herschel Jantjies (scrumhalves), Canan Moodie, (centre), Edwill van der Merwe (wing) and Damian Willemse (utility back).
Wiese is suspended, and Andre Esterhuizen (centre) awaits a disciplinary hearing after being sent off in the 64-21 win over Portugal on Saturday.
The Springboks will face Australia in Brisbane and Perth on 10 and 17 August respectively, before returning to South Africa to play back-to-back matches against New Zealand on Saturday, 31 August in Johannesburg, and 7 September in Cape Town. They will then take a short trip to Argentina to face Los Pumas in Santiago on Saturday, 21 September, before wrapping up the tournament in Nelspruit against Argentina on Saturday, 28 September.
The team will then travel to the UK for their traditional northern hemisphere tour in November where they will line up against Scotland (10 November), England (16 November) and Wales in Cardiff (23 November).
The year-end tour will be preceded by a one-week training camp in Jersey – one of the largest of the Channel Islands between England and France – where the team will have the luxury of acclimatising to the conditions, while at the same time focussing on their conditioning and preparation for the tour.
The Castle Lager Rugby Championship squad will assemble in Johannesburg on Sunday for a short preparation camp before departing for Australia on Wednesday 31 July.
Springbok squad for the Rugby Championship (in alphabetical order):
Forwards: Ben-Jason Dixon (Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar (Bulls), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (captain – Racing 92), Elrigh Louw (Bulls), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (Stormers), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels (all Bulls).
Backs: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Damian de Allende (Knights), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks).
Photo: Alex Broadway/Gallo Images
