The Springboks have called up prop Asenathi Ntlabakanyeto replace the injured Ox Nche ahead of their clash against France this weekend.

Ntlabakanye joined the squad in London on Sunday morning after playing for the Barbarians against an All Blacks XV at Twickenham, where he scored an early try in a 33-19 defeat. He was part of the Boks’ setup earlier this year, making his Test debut against Italy in July following a strong showing against the Barbarians in June.

Nche suffered an injury during South Africa’s dominant 61-7 victory over Japan at Wembley in London on Saturday and was forced to leave the field in the 18th minute. He has since returned home for scans to determine the extent of the damage.

Head coach Rassie Erasmus expressed disappointment over losing a key player but welcomed Ntlabakanye’s readiness to step in. “We feel for Ox and wish him all the best with his recovery,” Erasmus said. “It’s always tough to lose a player of his calibre, but Asenathi has been with us for much of the season and understands our systems. Fortunately, he was already in London and able to join the squad immediately.”

The Springboks arrived in France this past weekend and began on-field preparations on Monday ahead of Saturday’s fixture at the Stade de France.