RUGBY:SHARKS CENTRE Adrian Jacobs has been drafted into the South Africa squad for next Saturday's Test against Ireland as precautionary cover for Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh. Both were injured during Saturday's Currie Cup final in Durban and will be assessed before a final call is made by coach Peter de Villiers.
Jacobs, who has 30 caps for the Springboks, was in the preliminary 39-man squad named two weeks ago, but had failed to make the final list. De Jongh has an ankle problem and De Villiers a groin injury.
The world champions have already suffered one injury withdrawal since the 30-man squad was announced after scrum-half Ricky Januarie pulled out.
The Western Province number nine was examined by national team doctor Craig Roberts following the final when a knee injury was deemed too serious for him to travel. No replacement has yet been named.
Twenty-year-old Patrick Lambie played the match of his life on Saturday to earn a call-up to the 30-man Springbok squad for their tour of Ireland and Britain.
There were also recalls for fullback Francois Steyn and scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar as under-fire De Villiers named six uncapped players to face Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England on consecutive weekends.
Lambie earned selection after scoring 25 points in a man-of-the-match performance for the Natal Sharks, who beat Western Province 30-10 in the Currie Cup final at Kings Park in Durban.
The team will be led by World Cup-winning lock Victor Matfield in the absence of the injured John Smit, who is joined on the casualty list by regulars Jaque Fourie, Wynand Olivier, Andries Bekker, Fourie du Preez, Heinrich Brussow, JP Pietersen, Gurthro Steenkamp, Butch James and BJ Botha.
The Springboks kick-off their tour against Ireland at Aviva Stadium next Saturday.
SOUTH AFRICA SQUAD: Forwards: W Alberts (Sharks), B Botha (Blue Bulls), S Burger (Western Province), K Daniel (Sharks), B du Plessis (Sharks), J du Plessis (Sharks), A Hargreaves (Sharks), R Kankowski (Sharks), V Matfield (captain, Blue Bulls), T Mtawarira (Sharks), C Oosthuizen (Cheetahs), C Ralepelle (Blue Bulls), J Smith (Cheetahs), P Spies (Blue Bulls), A Strauss (Cheetahs), CJ van der Linde (Cheetahs), F van der Merwe (Blue Bulls). Backs: G Aplon (Western Province), B Basson (Blue Bulls), J de Jongh (Western Province), J de Villiers (Western Province), F Hougaard (Blue Bulls), B Habana (Western Province), A Jacobs (Sharks), E Jantjies (Golden Lions), R Januarie (Western Province), P Lambie (Sharks), L Mvovo (Sharks), R Pienaar (Ulster), F Steyn (Racing Metro), M Steyn (Blue Bulls).
