The Springboks are unlikely to give any of their uncapped players a first Test appearance during the November leg of the Nations Championship.
Rassie Erasmus included six uncapped players in his 37-man squad for the tour, which was announced at the end of October. However, fly-half Yaqeen Ahmed spent only a week with the group before returning home for scans on a shoulder injury.
That leaves Sebastian de Klerk, Luan Giliomee, Markus Muller, Riley Norton and Emmanuel Tshituka as the five uncapped players still with the squad.
None featured in last weekend’s Test against 11th-ranked Italy, despite it being viewed as the most likely opportunity for Erasmus to introduce new players to the international stage.
Explaining the decision, Erasmus said the group would first be given time to learn the team’s systems and adjust to the demands of the tour.
“They are all excited about the tour ahead, so we’ll expose them to our structures this week and monitor how they progress and hopefully we’ll be able to give them a chance to show what they can do at this level against top opposition in the next few weeks,” he said.
“They are special players, who all bring something different to the team, and we have full faith in their talent and skillsets.”
The Springboks are expected to select their strongest available side for Friday’s match against France. They will then face another demanding test against third-ranked Ireland next weekend.
With the finals weekend following those fixtures, and South Africa targeting the Nations Championship title, opportunities for Test debuts appear limited during the remainder of the month.
Instead, the uncapped players are set to benefit from extended time within the squad. They will be able to train under the team’s structures, understand the standards expected at international level and learn what is required to challenge for a place in the Test side.
The remaining schedule is:
Round 5
Friday, 13 November
Saturday, 14 November
Sunday, 15 November
Round 6
Saturday, 21 November
Finals weekend – Twickenham, London
Friday, 27 November
Saturday, 28 November
Sunday, 29 November
