Adre Smith's addition to the Bok squad is less about plugging holes and more about giving the management flexibility around Lood de Jager's hip surgery recovery. De Jager is back in camp and training after returning to action in Japan, but the Springbok coaches clearly don't want to risk rushing him into full match intensity ahead of the England series opener on July 4. Smith's arrival — following Ruben van Heerden's call-up after Salmaan Moerat was stood down with a neck injury — gives Deon Davids enough lock cover to manage workloads carefully. Davids frames it as depth management rather than crisis response: Van Heerden runs lineouts, Smith brings the grunt of a 4-jersey, and Tshituka adds further cover. The concern is real — losing multiple experienced locks is never ideal — but the coaching staff are presenting it as a structured response to a demanding season ahead.
Smith's call-up is really about managing De Jager's return
Smith's Bok call-up is primarily about protecting De Jager's return from hip surgery, with the coaching staff building enough lock cover to avoid rushing him into the England series before he's ready.
- Springboks
- Lood de Jager
- Salmaan Moerat
- Deon Davids
- England
Smith called up as Boks manage De Jager's return to full fitness
Stormers lock Adre Smith has been added to the Springbok squad primarily to allow Lood de Jager, returning from hip surgery, to build match fitness gradually ahead of the England Tests, with assistant coach Deon Davids confirming the lock depth has become a squad-planning priority following Salmaan Moerat's release through injury.
Smith and Van Heerden additions are about managing De Jager, not just plugging gaps
The Smith and Van Heerden call-ups are primarily about protecting De Jager's return from hip surgery ahead of the England Tests — Davids has outlined clear role distinctions for both new locks, and the piece frames the resourcing decisions as deliberate load management rather than injury panic.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu ankle injury puts Rugby Nations Championship opener in doubt
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will miss at least the first three rounds of the Rugby Nations Championship after injuring his ankle in the Stormers' URC quarterfinal win over Cardiff, adding to a growing list of Springbok halfback concerns that already includes Cobus Reinach's knee injury.
Janse van Rensburg at the top of England's centre pecking order — and what it means for the Boks
Borthwick's centre headache has a new frontrunner: Janse van Rensburg is rated the likely starter at 12 for England's Tests against Fiji and Argentina, though he's ineligible for the opener against the Springboks. The piece ranks all options at 12 and 13, with Freeman locked in outside and Slade unlucky to be on the fringes.
Springboks Through Irish Eyes: Gráinne Seoige on Loftus, Rassie, and Why SA Rugby Is Unlike Anything Else
Irish TV personality Gráinne Seoige tells the Lekker Rugby Pod that walking into Loftus for the 2024 Ireland test was the most intimidating rugby atmosphere she has ever experienced, and argues that Rassie Erasmus's cultural transformation of Springbok rugby is a bigger achievement than the World Cup wins.