Erasmus calls up six newcomers as Springboks chase London finals place

The Springboks begin the November leg of the Nations Championship at the top of the Southern Hemisphere standings, with three away Tests standing between them and the inaugural finals weekend in London.

Rassie Erasmus’s side won all three July fixtures, against England, Scotland and Wales. South Africa and New Zealand each have 15 championship points, with the Boks ahead on points difference.

Their European campaign opens against Italy in Turin on Saturday 7 November, followed by France at the Stade de France on Friday 13 November and Ireland in Dublin on Saturday 21 November.

The results will determine South Africa’s position heading into the finals weekend on 27–29 November, when the leading Southern Hemisphere side will meet the Northern Hemisphere table-toppers for the title.

Erasmus has named a 37-man squad that includes six uncapped players: flyhalves Yaqeen Ahmed and Luan Giliomee, centre Markus Muller, wing Sebastian de Klerk, lock Riley Norton and loose forward Emmanuel Tshituka.

Cheslin Kolbe, Eben Etzebeth, André Esterhuizen and Handré Pollard are out through injury. All six have been in the national set-up before, and Erasmus said they had earned their chance through their performances. The side to face Italy has yet to be named.

Four of the newcomers – Ahmed, Giliomee, Muller and Tshituka – played for South Africa A in their 40–0 win over Zimbabwe in Gqeberha on 20 June, the curtain-raiser to the Boks’ match against the Barbarians.

Ahmed scored the opening try and kicked three conversions before a red card for a dangerous tackle ended his afternoon. Muller also crossed, and Giliomee moved from fullback to flyhalf after Ahmed’s dismissal and added two conversions. Norton, a former Junior Springbok captain, had already featured against the Barbarians and scored one of the Boks’ tries.

Their club form has strengthened the case. Ahmed, 20, and Muller, 19, both of the Stormers, were central to the Junior Boks’ world championship triumph, with Ahmed contributing 11 points and Muller scoring South Africa’s only try in the 16–5 final win over France.

In the Stormers’ United Rugby Championship win over Ulster over the past weekend, Ahmed scored a late try and converted four others, while Muller impressed at inside centre. Giliomee, also 20, played for the Sharks in the competition last season and now turns out for the Bulls.

Mark Keohane, Sunday Times rugby columnist, argued that the selections were a reflection of ability rather than an investment in the future. He said injuries had opened doors, but that neither Ahmed nor Muller had been picked out of sympathy or a lack of senior options.

Stormers coach John Dobson welcomed the call-ups of three of his young players. The newcomers join a settled core led by captain Siya Kolisi that includes Pieter-Steph du Toit and Damian de Allende.

Sources: SABC News, SABC Sport, The Citizen, The Herald, Planet Rugby, SA Rugby magazine (Mark Keohane, Sunday Times); FloRugby, 29 October 2026; SA Rugby’s published 2026 fixture programme.