Overview
- Coach Rassie Erasmus announced the 37‑man squad on Wednesday that includes six uncapped players: Yaqeen Ahmed, Sebastian de Klerk, Luan Giliomee, Markus Muller, Riley Norton and Emmanuel Tshituka.
- Four established World Cup winners — Cheslin Kolbe, Eben Etzebeth, André Esterhuizen and Handré Pollard — were ruled out through injury and remove a combined total of 324 Test caps from the touring group.
- South Africa will assemble in Italy ahead of away Tests against Italy (7 November), France (13 November) and Ireland (21 November) followed by a Finals Weekend in London from 27–29 November.
- Erasmus said all six newcomers have been monitored in SA 'A', Junior Springbok or alignment camps and that the call‑ups are intended to give game exposure and build cover for key positions.
- The selection leaves the Boks leading the Southern Hemisphere standings on points difference, tied on 15 points with New Zealand, and shifts the November tour’s emphasis from experience to testing depth and opportunity for younger players.