The selection of the Springbok team is and was always a hotly debated issue, with provincial bias more than often the deciding factor. However, the Springboks management have decided a few seasons ago that players playing outside of South Africa are available for selection without any criteria to be met.
The weakness of the South African Rand meant that the local franchises simply could not compete with clubs abroad leading to several Springboks moving abroad to earn "millions" with Duane Vermeulen and Trevor Nyakane the latest.
Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber’s initial 46-man Springboks squad for the British & Irish Lions series included 23 players who play their rugby overseas.
The selection of our overseas-based Springbok team included only one uncapped player and three Springboks who did not form part of the 2021 Springbok Squads.
Overseas Springbok Squad: 15. Tyrone Green (**), 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 13. Rohan Janse Van Rensburg (*), 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Dillyn Leyds (*), 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Faf De Klerk, 8. Duane Vermeulen (c), 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6. Marco Van Staden, 5. Lood de Jager, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Vincent Koch, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Trevor Nyakane. Replacements: 16. Joseph Dweba, 17. Coenie Oosthuizen, 18. Wilco Louw, 19. RG Snyman, 20. Kwagga Smith, 21. Cobus Reinach, 22. Handre Pollard, 23. Raymond Rhule.
(*) Springboks not included in 2021 Squads, (**) Uncapped