Marx gets first call-up as Boks name squad

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Uncapped Malcolm Marx received some consolation after finishing on the losing side in Saturday's Super Rugby final when he was named for the first time in a 31-man South Africa squad for the first two matches of this year’s Rugby Championship competition.

The Lions hooker finished a runner-up against the Hurricanes in Wellington but had reason to smile just hours after the final whistle as the Springbok squad were named.

Juan de Jongh, Johan Goosen, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Vincent Koch and Oupa Mohoje won recalls as seven changes were made to the squad that played three tests against Ireland in June.

Among those dropped were experienced winger JP Pietersen and first-choice full back Willie le Roux.

“JP and I recently held discussions and I have decided to give him a much-needed break because he has played a lot of rugby the past three years. Although he has joined English club Leicester, he will still be available for the Springboks. The same applies to Willie, who has just signed with Wasps,” said coach Allister Coetzee in a SARU statement

“The other players who were part of the squad in June but have missed out on selection will continue to be part of the process going forward. We have to build depth because this is a long haul and a tough competition, and they are not out of our plans.”

South Africa open their campaign against Argentina on Aug. 20 in Nelspruit and play away in Salta a week later. The Boks also play Australia and New Zealand home and away in the competition in September and October.

The selection of prop Trevor Nyakane is subject to medical clearance, SARU added.

Squad:

Backs: Ruan Combrinck (Lions), Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh (Stormers), Faf de Klerk (Lions), Johan Goosen (Racing Metro), Bryan Habana (Toulon), Francois Hougaard (Worcester), Elton Jantjies (Lions), Jesse Kriel (Bulls), Lionel Mapoe (Lions), Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), Rudy Paige (Bulls), Morne Steyn (Stade Francais)

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

(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Clare Fallon)