Eben Etzebeth returns to boost leadership ahead of crucial Nations Championship matches

Experienced lock Eben Etzebeth has been called up to the national squad and will join the Springboks in France on Monday, while uncapped flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed will return to South Africa on Sunday due to a shoulder niggle.

Etzebeth, the most capped Bok with 147 Test appearances, was ruled out of Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus’s initial touring squad for the second phase of the Nations Championship due to injury. However, he is now fit and has been recalled to the squad in place of Ahmed.

The 20-year-old Ahmed, one of six uncapped players in the squad, was sidelined with a sore shoulder which saw him miss most of the training sessions in the build-up to the Boks’ 66-7 victory against Italy in Turin on Saturday.

“We are very sad for Yaqeen after earning his first call-up to the national squad, but we feel it will be best for him to return to South Africa to recover,” said Erasmus on Sunday.

“After being with us for a week, he has a good idea of how we operate and has more insight into our systems, and we are confident that the experience will benefit him immensely as a player going forward.

“With enough backline cover in the squad and a number of versatile players among them, we opted to call up Eben, who will not only bring vast experience to the group at this vital stage of the Nations Championship, but also valuable leadership skills, especially with two important matches against France and Ireland in the next two weeks before the Finals Weekend of the tournament.”

Erasmus will name his match 23 to face France on Monday.