Mvovo, Hougaard in Bok squad

Lwazi Mvovo and Francois Hougaard have been included in the 28-man Springbok squad for the two away Rugby Championship Tests against Australia and New Zealand.

The Springboks play in Brisbane on 10 September and in Christchurch a week later.

Mvovo comes into the travelling party as a replacement for Ruan Combrinck, who sustained a leg fracture against Argentina in Salta and has been ruled out for up to six weeks.

Hougaard was not considered for the two Pumas Tests because of a knee injury, but the Springbok Sevens Olympian and Worcester Warriors scrumhalf has since recovered.

Flyhalf Elton Jantjies will travel with the squad after he left the field early on Saturday with a deep bruise to the thigh. Although cleared to tour, a decision on his availability for the Australian game will only be made next week.

'Losing Ruan is a setback for us, but injuries are part of the game and it’s good for us to be able to call on experienced players such as Lwazi and Francois,' said Bok coach Allister Coetzee. 'We are not happy with where we find ourselves after the first two matches of the campaign. Australia will pose an even tougher challenge and it is important that we deliver a much-improved performance in Brisbane.'

The Boks assemble on Thursday morning in Johannesburg and fly out to Australia later that evening.

Springbok touring squad:

Forwards – Lourens Adriaanse, Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Jaco Kriel, Francois Louw, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Oupa Mohoje, Franco Mostert, Beast Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Adriaan Strauss (c), Warren Whiteley.

Backs – Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh, Faf de Klerk, Johan Goosen, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Elton Jantjies, Jesse Kriel, Lionel Mapoe, Lwazi Mvovo, Rudy Paige, Morné Steyn.

Photo: Roger Sedres/Gallo Images

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