Springboks recall 'outstanding' Papier for Nations Championship

Scrum-half Embrose Papier has been recalled by South Africa as part of a 46-man squad for Nations Championship matches against England, Scotland and Wales during July.

The new competition pits southern and northern hemisphere teams against each other next month and in November, culminating in a finals tournament over three days at Twickenham the same month.

Papier won the last of seven caps in 2018, but missed the exhibition win over the Barbarians on Saturday as his club, the Bulls, were playing Leinster in the United Rugby Championship final.

"Embrose is playing great rugby," said Springboks legend Victor Matfield in a podcast. "He went through a dip in form, but this season has been outstanding."

Another scrum-half returning to the squad is France-based 2019 Rugby World Cup winner Herschel Jantjies, who has been out of favour for several seasons.

The other scrum-halves named by head coach Rassie Erasmus are Cobus Reinach and Grant Williams, who alternated as the first choice for much of last season.

There was no place for double World Cup winner Faf de Klerk, however. He received prolonged applause coming off the bench against the BaaBaas and scored one of 12 Springbok tries.

The record four-time Rugby World Cup champions will lack star fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu for the three Tests, starting with England in Johannesburg on July 4.

He sustained a knee injury playing for the Stormers in the URC, but Erasmus believes he could be fit for a four-Test series against arch rivals New Zealand in August and September.

Sacha could face All Blacks

"Sacha should be ready about four weeks before the first All Blacks Test," said the key coaching figure in the 2019 and 2023 World Cup triumphs of the Springboks.

This is a more positive verdict on the young playmaker than original estimates that he could be out of action for up to six months.

Creative Manie Libbok and ace goal-kicker Handre Pollard will compete for the No. 10 shirt until Feinberg-Mngomezulu becomes a contender.

After a spate of injuries, Feinberg-Mngomezulu is the only absentee from what would be widely considered the best current Springboks XV.

However, lock RG Snyman and loose forward Kwagga Smith, both effective forwards off the bench, have been ruled out for the 2026 season owing to injuries.

Another absentee is wing-cum-centre Ethan Hooker, but Erasmus said the back may be available for the New Zealand 'Greatest Rivalry' series.

Erasmus has included 12 Bulls, but flanker Elrigh Louw from the Pretoria outfit misses out. He was sidelined throughout last season with a fractured leg.

There are six uncapped players in the squad, including tighthead prop Carlu Sadie from European champions Bordeaux-Begles.

The others are locks Ruben van Heerden and Riley Norton, who impressed against the Barbarians, flanker Paul de Villiers, fly-half Vusi Moyo and winger Jaco Williams.

After tackling England, South Africa face Scotland in Pretoria on July 11 and Wales in Durban seven days later.