Kitshoff and Moodie return as Springboks name updated Rugby Championship squad

World Cup winners Kitshoff, Moodie and Jaden Hendrikse are all back from injury, while Erasmus has also recalled Jasper Wiese, Andre Esterhuizen and Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg in his expanded 37-man squad set to assemble in Johannesburg on Thursday.

The Boks face the All Blacks in two blockbuster Tests at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg (31 August) and the DHL Stadium in Cape Town a week later (7 September).

With locks Franco Mostert, Lood de Jager and Jean Kleyn still on the injured list, Janse van Rensburg, who played his first and only Test match against Argentina in Port Elizabeth in 2021, has been recalled to the national squad.

Erasmus' squad features 31 of the 33 players who travelled to Australia for their two opening Castle Lager Rugby Championship Tests against the Wallabies in Brisbane and Perth. Newcomers Morne van den Berg and Johan Grobbelaar are the two players to miss out.

Kitshoff (knee), Hendrikse (shoulder) and Moodie (finger) have all recovered fully from their respective injuries, while Wiese and Esterhuizen return following suspensions.

Other players still on the injury list include Evan Roos, Herschel Jantjies and Faf de Klerk.

"New Zealand are ranked third in the world, and they always test us to the limit," said Erasmus.

"We also saw last week what they can do under pressure when they defeated Argentina 42-10 after going down in their first Test against the Pumas.

"We know these two tests will provide a completely different challenge to what we've faced against an Australian team that is still finding their feet with a new coach and a bunch of young players coming through the ranks."

Erasmus added: "It's good to have Steven, Jaden and Canan back from injury, along with Jasper and Andre. They are all Rugby World Cup winners, who have delivered quality performances consistently against the top teams in the world, so they'll bring experience and their unique skillsets to this squad.

"As a team we are in a good position in terms of squad depth with 32 of the 33 players on tour playing against the Wallabies - the only exception was RG Snyman who suffered a foot niggle - and we have full faith in the young players to showcase their talent once again against a completely different opponent in New Zealand.

"Adding to that, all these players, with the exception of Nicolaas, were members of our training squad in Pretoria in July and our alignment camps earlier in the year, and they've have been regular members of the squad in the last few years, so they understand our systems and should slot in with ease.

"Nicolaas has had a good season with Montpellier and is a capped Springbok, so we are excited to welcome him back into the fold."

Erasmus delivered good news saying Snyman should be available for selection for the opening Test against the All Blacks after having two weeks to recover from the foot niggle he picked up at a training session in Brisbane.

"RG should be able to train with us this week again and, if that's the case, he will be in contention for selection for the Test against New Zealand in Johannesburg," said Erasmus.

"We are also excited to see what some of the young players can do in these two Tests if they get a run after making a strong impression on the coaches so far this season.

"Similarly to the coaches, they are fully aware that this will be a new challenge in intense matches between two of the biggest rivals in world rugby, but the experienced they gained by facing in Australia in two tough Test matches overseas - one of which was in extreme weather conditions - will set them in good stead going into this series."

Casting an eye on the Tests against New Zealand, Erasmus said: "They are one of the best teams in the world and they tend to deliver top-drawer performances against us time and time again, so we have to be charged up physically and mentally for the challenge ahead.

"It's good that we are facing them at home in front of our passionate supporters in sold-out stadiums, although they have a strong support base in Cape Town, so we are under no illusions about what lies ahead.

"That said, it's vital for us to continue building on the momentum that we gained in our first two games.

"We are currently at the top of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship table, but one result can change that, so we realise the importance of giving everything in these matches to keep alive our hopes of winning the title for the first time since 2019."

Springbok squad for the New Zealand leg of Rugby Championship

Forwards: Thomas du Toit, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Frans Malherbe, Ox Nche, Gerhard Steenekamp, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Eben Etzebeth, Salmaan Moerat, Ruan Nortje, RG Snyman, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Ben-Jason Dixon, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain), Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Marco van Staden, Jasper Wiese.

Backs: Jaden Hendrikse, Cobus Reinach, Grant Williams, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Manie Libbok, Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Jesse Kriel, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Makazole Mapimpi, Canan Moodie.

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