Blitzbok captain Philip Snyman has recovered from a hamstring injury in time to lead the Springbok Sevens' team in the next two World Rugby Sevens series event in Las Vegas and Vancouver.
The experienced Snyman is back from injury and will yet again spearhead the Springbok Sevens' effort next weekend in Las Vegas when they contest round five of the World Rugby Sevens Series.
The squad will include the experience of Kyle Brown, Branco du Preez and Cecil Afrika, as well as the inexperienced Muller du Plessis who could potentially make his Blitzbok debut.
Du Plessis, who has represented both SA Schools and the SA Rugby Sevens Academy, joined the squad in Hamilton as a replacement player, but was unfortunately ruled out before the tournament kicked off due to a training injury. The 18-year-old will become Blitzbok number 168 if he is named as one of the starting 12.
Six changes have been made to the team the played in Hamilton. Four of those changes are due to some players having returned to their Vodacom Super Rugby teams. They are: Tim Agaba (Bulls), Seabelo Senatla, Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Stormers) and Kwagga Smith (Lions).
The other two changes are due to injuries with Justin Geduld (jaw) and Rosko Specman (hamstring) unavailable to make the trip.
Players that have been added to the squad are by coach Neil Powell are: Selvyn Davids, Ryan Oosthuizen, Siviwe Soyizwapi and Ruhan Nel who also missed the Hamilton tournament.
It will be the first time in the current series that Davids and Oosthuizen will be in action, after making their Blitzbok debuts in the 2016/17 season, in which South Africa claimed overall honours. Soyizwapi picked up a knee injury at the Cape Town Sevens in December and missed the trip to Australasia, but his return has come at a good time for the Blitzboks.
"We were disrupted a bit with injuries during our last trip, but I am pleased that most of the players recovered and responded well in training," said Powell in a media release.
"We are lucky in that we could plan for the absence of the four players who have returned to their Vodacom Super Rugby franchises before the Vegas trip, tapping into our squad depth.
"Siviwe, Selvyn and Ryan have played for us before and I am excited about their expected contributions, while Muller has been part of our plans for a while now. We have a number of old hands on deck, but having some youthful energy from the younger guys are always a bonus."
The Blitzboks will take on Wales, Canada and England in Pool B in Las Vegas. They depart for the USA on Saturday.
The Springbok Sevens team (from):
1. Ryan Oosthuizen (4 tournaments, 12 matches, 0 points)
2. Philip Snyman (captain - 50 tournaments, 225 matches, 321 points, 58 tries)
3. Dylan Sage (19 tournaments, 104 matches, 110 points, 22 tries)
4. Zain Davids (7 tournaments, 25 matches, 10 points, 2 tries)
5. Werner Kok (33 tournaments, 165 matches, 370 points, 74 tries)
6. Kyle Brown (62 tournaments, 312 matches, 410 points, 82 tries)
7. Branco du Preez (58 tournaments, 291 matches, 1107 points, 81 tries)
8. Muller du Plessis (uncapped)
9. Selvyn Davids (1 tournament, 5 matches, 2 points)
10. Cecil Afrika (57 tournaments, 297 matches, 1368 points, 165 tries)
11. Siviwe Soyizwapi (13 tournaments, 59 matches, 180 points, 36 tries)
12. Stedman Gans (6 tournaments, 23 matches, 10 points, 2 tries)
13. Ruhan Nel (23 tournaments, 127 matches, 217 points, 43 tries)