South Africa Name Rugby Championship Roster

South African Head Coach Allister Coetzee has finalized his playing roster for the Rugby Championship. In doing so he has added Johan Goosen, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Juan de Jongh, Vincent Koch, Juan de Jongh, Malcolm Marx, and Oupa Mohoje.

The roster named is for the opening two rounds of the competition. These two fixtures will see South Africa facing Argentina home and away. Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit will host the first match on August 20.

For the match Coetzee has made seven alterations from the roster that faced Ireland in three matches in June. Missing to injury are Siya Kolisi, Patrick Lambie, Handré Pollard, Frans Malherbe, Coenie Oosthuizen, Cobus Reinach, and Jan Serfontein.

The final roster contains 31 players. Included are 18 forwards and 13 backs. Players based in England and France have been selected. Such names include Goosen, Habana, Hougaard, Steven Kitshoff, Francois Louw, Morné Steyn and Duane Vermeulen.

FORWARDS
Steven Kitshoff (Bordeaux, FR), Vincent Koch (Stormers), Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Bulls), Julian Redelinghuys (Lions), Malcolm Marx (Lions), Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers), Adriaan Strauss (capt., Bulls), Lood de Jager (Cheetahs), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), Franco Mostert (Lions), Jaco Kriel (Lions), Francois Louw (Bath, UK), Oupa Mohoje (Cheetahs), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Stormers), Duane Vermeulen (Toulon, FR), Warren Whiteley (Lions)

BACKS
Faf de Klerk (Lions), Francois Hougaard (Worcester Warriors, UK), Rudy Paige (Bulls), Elton Jantjies (Lions), Morné Steyn (Stade Français, FR), Damian de Allende (Stormers), Juan de Jongh (Stormers), Lionel Mapoe (Lions), Ruan Combrinck (Lions), Bryan Habana (Toulon, FR), Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), Johan Goosen (Racing 92, FR), Jesse Kriel (Bulls)