Rassie Erasmus will be allowed to select some of his best Springboks for their final game of the Test season against Wales.
South Africa have a busy schedule in November with five games in total, but two of those matches fall outside of World Rugby’s international window.
They face Japan, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales in the Autumn Nations Series, but only the middle three encounters fall inside the allotted Test period laid out by the governing body.
Agreement from Japanese clubs
That means Erasmus needed to get special dispensation to have his foreign-based players made available but, according to Rapport, the Japanese clubs have approved their availability.
As a result, the likes of Malcolm Marx, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe could be in the side to face the Welsh on November 29.
The head coach will also be able to select them for the clash with the Brave Blossoms at the start of the month.
According to Erasmus, that game is specifically designed to give his Japan-based Boks some time on the field ahead of sterner challenges with France, Italy and Ireland.
“The Test against Japan was arranged for the players who are not currently playing in a league and for the players returning from injuries,” he said.
Japan are currently led by former Wallabies and England boss Eddie Jones, but he will be assisted by two South Africans in the form of ex-record cap holder Victor Matfield and experienced coach Gary Gold.
Springboks form this season
The Springboks will be looking for a positive end to the season after they overcame a difficult start to the Rugby Championship to retain the title.
Erasmus’ men lost two of their opening three matches but recovered to win their last three, including a record 43-10 triumph over the All Blacks. That result saw them edge New Zealand at the top of the table, despite the two teams finishing level on points.
It follows a positive 2024 for South Africa, who emerged victorious in 11 of their 13 matches, with their only defeats coming by a point to Ireland and Argentina.
South Africa have cemented their status as the best team in the sport as they look towards claiming an unprecedented three-peat in Australia in 2027.
After lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in 2023, which followed their triumph in Japan four years earlier, Erasmus’ men remain in good shape for a tilt at the title in two years’ time.
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