South Africa will be able to use their Japan-based Springboks against England at Twickenham on November 26, according to coach Jacques Nienaber on Tuesday.
Earlier this week, it was reported that the Boks would be given the go-ahead to field their Japan-based players against England.
Other current Springboks who play in Japan are scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, centres Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende, and fullback Willie le Roux.
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Japanese clubs for their cooperation in granting us permission to select players for the England Test,” Nienaber said.
“We’re building momentum toward the World Cup, and the game against England is critical in that process because they’re one of the leading title contenders.”
Nienaber also stated that Springboks based in the United Kingdom, Ireland, or France would be released after South Africa’s match against Italy in Genoa on November 19.
This decision would rule out Leicester Tigers’ Jasper Wiese and Ulster’s Duane Vermeulen, who have been vying for the No. 8 jersey in the green and gold starting lineup.
Injuries have plagued Vermeulen, who will be 37 when South Africa defends the Rugby World Cup in France next year, allowing Wiese, 26, to be a regular Test starter this year.
The Boks face a difficult European tour, beginning with Ireland in Dublin on November 5 and France in Marseille on November 12, followed by Italy and England.
Ireland, France, and England are ranked first, second, and fifth, with South Africa coming in third and New Zealand coming in fourth.
South Africa will also send a reserve Springboks team to Europe for matches against Munster in Cork on November 10 and Bristol Bears in the west English city on November 17.
According to Nienaber, a 54-man squad for the four Tests and two tour matches will be announced on October 28.
The coach has called up 26 players, 17 from South Africa and nine from Japan, for a three-day training camp beginning Sunday in the university town of Stellenbosch, east of Cape Town.
South Africa is in Pool B with Ireland, Scotland, Tonga, and Romania at the World Cup, and the section winners and runners-up advance to the quarter-finals.
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