Springbok experienced scrumhalf Faf de Klerk will join Rassie Erasmus’ side in New Zealand for the second leg of their Rugby Championship campaign against the All Blacks, where they will play matches in Auckland and Wellington, as additional cover in the key position.
De Klerk’s inclusion in the squad increases the size of the group currently preparing for the first Test in Auckland to 36 players, after Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi remained behind in South Africa earlier this week to attend to family matters.
The Springboks will face their archrivals, the All Blacks, at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday 6 September, before travelling to Wellington for their second match on the tour at the Sky Stadium on Saturday 13 September.
New Zealand has not lost at the iconic Eden Park since 1994, and the Boks’ last win there was in 25 September 1937.
However, the Springboks will go into these matches having won their four games against their huge rivals, including a 35-7 victory before the Rugby World Cup 2023 in London.
The Springboks beat the All Blacks in the final of that World Cup at Stade de France in Paris by one point to claim the World Cup for the record fourth time.