Adre Smith's addition to the Springbok squad is as much about managing Lood de Jager's return from hip surgery as it is about covering an injury-depleted lock group. De Jager, who went under the knife in January, had at one point been in doubt for the July Test window entirely, but has made sufficient progress to return to training in the Bok camp in Johannesburg after a stint back in action in Japan.
Rather than rushing De Jager back to full match intensity ahead of the first Test against England at Ellis Park on 4 July, the coaching staff are using the expanded lock group to manage his workload carefully.
The second-row resources had already been stretched before Smith's arrival. Salmaan Moerat was released from camp last week with a persistent neck injury, prompting the call-up of fellow Stormers lock Ruben van Heerden. Smith followed on Sunday as a further reinforcement.
Assistant coach Deon Davids — who will serve in that capacity for both the SA 'A' team against Zimbabwe and the Springboks against the Barbarians this weekend — outlined how the two new additions complement each other. "Adre is more of a No.4 lock who brings that grunt and physicality to the team. Having him with Ruben, and players like Vincent Tshituka who can also cover there, means we've got enough depth if injuries happen or if we need cover at either lock position."
Davids also pointed to Van Heerden's lineout leadership as a key attribute. On the broader injury situation, he was measured: "It's never the perfect scenario when you lose quality players through injury, especially in the lock department. But we've learned over the years that South Africa has a lot of quality players. Whenever someone gets injured, it creates an opportunity for the next player."
The Springbok and SA 'A' squads were set to be announced on Tuesday, with the group travelling to Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.