Johannesburg: South Africa recalled prop Vincent Koch and included uncapped centre Ruhan Nel Sunday in a 30-man squad for home Rugby Championship Tests against Australia and New Zealand.
Tighthead Koch, 28, plays for English Premiership club Saracens and won the last of nine Springbok caps in 2015.
Nel, 27, has starred for Western Province in the Currie Cup and while his preferred position is centre, he can also operate at full-back and on the wing.
His call-up was unexpected with coach Johan ‘Rassie’ Erasmus saying: “Ruhan comes with a lot of international experience with the Blitzboks (national sevens team).
“He has performed consistently well for Western Province so it will be good to see how he operates in the Bok environment.”