South Africa to face Ireland in November without four key players

Ireland face Argentina on November 6 and South Africa on November 21 with a match against Fiji sandwiched between

South Africa lead the Nations Championship Southern Hemisphere standings on ‌points ⁠difference ahead of New Zealand, with both teams on 15 points. Pic: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire.

South Africa named six uncapped players in a 37-man squad for November’s Nations Championship matches as coach Rassie ​Erasmus expands his potential talent pool for next year’s defence of their World Cup title.

Yaqeen Ahmed, Sebastian de Klerk, Luan Giliomee, Markus Muller, Riley Norton and Emmanuel Tshituka have yet to earn a ​test cap but all six have been involved in the ​Springboks set-up before.

Ahmed, Giliomee, Muller and Tshituka represented the ⁠South Africa ‘A’ team against Zimbabwe in June, while Norton played ​for the Springboks against the Barbarians the same month. De Klerk ​attended a Springboks training camp last season.

Cheslin Kolbe, Eben Etzebeth, Andre Esterhuizen and Handre Pollard have been ruled out because of injury.

South Africa play away ​against Italy, France and Ireland before the finals weekend at ​Twickenham at the end of November.

South Africa lead the Southern Hemisphere standings on ‌points ⁠difference ahead of New Zealand, with both teams on 15 points.

Argentina have called up three replacements for their Nations Championship campaign after key ​players were ruled out by injury ahead of ‌their four-match schedule next month.

Rodrigo Martínez Manzano, Matías Moroni and Mateo Soler have all joined up with the ​squad who have had a three-day training ​camp in London that ends on Wednesday.

Soler, ⁠fresh from his test debut off the ​bench against Australia last month, replaces Santiago Carreras, who ​suffered a serious knee injury playing for Bath in England last weekend and will miss the rest of the ​season.

Moroni has a chance to reach the ​milestone of 100 caps after being called up as Toulouse ‌centre ⁠Santiago Chocobares is in doubt after suffering a head knock at the weekend.

Prop Manzano, who plays at Dragons in Wales, replaces Thomas Gallo, who ​has had surgery ​on his ⁠left wrist hurt while playing club rugby in France.

The squad will get ​together again at the start of ​next ⁠week ahead of facing Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on November 6, Italy on November 14 and France on November 21. ⁠They ​will then play at Twickenham ​on the Nations Championship finals weekend on November 27-29.

Meanwhile veteran utility back Kurtley Beale has been recalled to the Wallabies squad for the Nations ​Championship tests in Britain, replacing Hunter Paisami, who ‌has withdrawn for personal reasons.

The 95-test Beale last played for Australia against Wales in Cardiff in 2021 and was ​named in the Wallabies squad in 2024 before ​an Achilles injury ended his season.

Coach Les Kiss ⁠said Beale's experience and versatility would be valuable, ​with the Western Force player primarily providing midfield cover.

Former Northampton Saints back James Ramm has also been added to the squad following an impressive ​campaign with Northland ​in New ⁠Zealand's provincial championship.

Scrumhalf Kalani Thomas ​will join ⁠the squad after his Australia A commitments, with Tate McDermott expected to return home during November for the ⁠birth ​of his first child.

The Wallabies ​meet England at Twickenham on November 8, before further tests against Scotland ​and Wales.

South Africa squad - Backs: Y Ahmed (Stormers), K-L Arendse (Mitsubishi Dynaboars), D de Allende (Wild Knights), S de Klerk (Bulls), A Fassi (Sharks), S Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), L Giliomee (Bulls), E Hooker (Sharks), J ​Kriel (Canon Eagles), M ​Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), C ⁠Moodie (Bulls), M Muller, C Reinach (both Stormers), M van den Berg (Lions), E van der Merwe (Sharks), D Willemse (Stormers), ​G Williams (Kobe Steelers).

Forwards: L de Jager (Wild Knights), P ​de Villiers (Stormers), ⁠P-S du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), T du Toit (Sharks), C Hanekom (Bulls), S Kolisi, W Louw (both Stormers), M Marx (Kubota Spears), N Mchunu (Stormers), S Moerat (Stade Rochelais), ⁠F  ​Mostert (Honda Heat), O Nche (Sharks), R Nortje (Kubota Spears), ​R Norton, Z Porthen (both Stormers), G Steenekamp (Bulls), E Tshituka (Sharks), M van Staden, J-H Wessels (both ​Bulls), J Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).