Bok head coach Jacques Nienaber said on Sunday that Cobus Reinach was “excellent” for French club Montpellier this past weekend, putting him in contention to replace injured first-choice scrumhalf Faf de Klerk for next month’s internationals.

Reinach (31) scored twice as his club beat Racing 92 in the Top 14 on Saturday and will compete with the Stormers’ Herschel Jantjies and the Sharks’ Grant Williams for a starting berth.

The Rugby World Cup holders head to Wales on 6 November, Scotland a week later and England on 20 November.

“I saw the highlights and I thought he was quite good, I thought he was excellent,” Nienaber told a media conference.

“The guys know what they have to do to put their hands up. Between Cobus, Herschel and Grant it’s going to be a tough one.

“We must know that no one is irreplaceable and the players must know they have to perform,” he added.

Nienaber’s side are in France this week to avoid Covid-19 quarantine in Britain, before heading to Cardiff.

All but nine of the 32-man squad are in Paris with the remainder set to join the set-up after featuring for their European sides.

“Those who have the chance to play for their clubs must play well to stake their claim for selection,” Nienaber said.

“The players who are now with us in this group must train well to stake their claim for selection.

“I don’t think there will be surprises in selection. I will be surprised if the players slack in terms of their training or club performances,” he added.

Part of the travelling group watched Montpellier’s win in the French capital as Boks flyhalf Handre Pollard started at centre for his club after ending the 2 October win over the All Blacks in midfield.

“Handre is our 10, he will probably always be our 10,” Nienaber said.

“But it’s always nice, if you think how we finished the game against New Zealand, to have that option and versatility,” he added.

© Agence France-Presse