Springboks Scrumhalf Returns
Springboks recall scrumhalves Jantjies and Papier for Nations Championship
South Africa has named a 46-man squad for the inaugural Nations Championship, recalling scrumhalves Herschel Jantjies and Embrose Papier after both impressed this season. The announcement came hours after the Springboks crushed a star-studded Barbarians side 80-31 and South Africa A beat Zimbabwe 40-0 in a double-header at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on June 20, AP reported.
Papier's return is the headline story. He had not worn a Springbok jersey since 2018 — a gap of eight years. His outstanding domestic form, including being named SA URC Player of the Season, forced coach Rassie Erasmus's hand. Jantjies, meanwhile, returns for the first time since August 2023, his form at French club Bayonne earning him a recall, according to Reuters.
Papier and Jantjies Earn Returns After Standout Seasons
Erasmus made clear that form, not reputation, drove the selection. "Embrose and Herschel have also made strong statements with their performances this season, and we are looking forward to welcoming them back in the squad," he said, according to AP. Both players will compete with regular scrumhalves Cobus Reinach and Grant Williams for a starting spot.
The 46-man squad also includes six uncapped players: Riley Norton, Paul de Villiers, Vusi Moyo, Jaco Williams, Carlu Sadie, and Ruben van Heerden, Reuters reported. The squad is set to regroup in Johannesburg on June 21 to begin preparations ahead of a July 4 opener against England at Ellis Park.
Springboks Run Riot With 80-31 Demolition of Barbarians
The Springboks put on a show in Gqeberha, running in 12 tries against the Barbarians. Winger Edwill van der Merwe scored a hat-trick. Cheslin Kolbe added 23 points — one try and nine conversions. The Boks led 40-26 at halftime before pulling clear in the second half, according to SA Rugby.
Earlier in the day, South Africa A beat Zimbabwe 40-0 in the curtain-raiser. Six tries were scored, with Yaqeen Ahmed and Jaco Williams among the standout performers. A crowd of 26,398 fans attended the double-header, according to SA Rugby, signaling strong appetite for the new Nations Championship season.
Nations Championship Is a New Global Rugby Format
The Nations Championship is a brand-new competition. It is a joint venture between SANZAAR — covering South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina — and Six Nations Rugby. Twelve nations compete in two pools split between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Every match in the July and November windows counts toward a points table, according to World Rugby.
The top team from each hemisphere will meet in a Grand Final at Twickenham in November 2026. For South Africa, the road starts July 4 against England, followed by Scotland on July 11 and Wales on July 18. The format replaces the old-style incoming tours, which typically featured a three-match series against a single nation.
What the Recalls Mean for Springbok Scrumhalf Depth
Analysts say the recall of Papier and Jantjies signals a shift in South Africa's thinking at scrumhalf. With Faf de Klerk still around as a veteran option, Erasmus now has five scrumhalves to choose from. Planet Rugby noted that the coach appears to be looking for more attacking spark from the base of the ruck.
Domestic outlets like The Citizen framed the Gqeberha weekend as a "masterclass in depth," with the Boks able to field nearly 50 high-quality players in a single day. Captain Siya Kolisi, who led the side against the Barbarians, expressed pride in the depth shown across both the A team and the senior squad.
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