The versatile Jean-Luc du Preez has finally linked up with the Springbok squad as the world champions gear up for the start of the Rugby Championship.

The 27-year-old powerhouse was granted permission by his English Premiership club Sale Sharks to join the national team this week.

He played the last of his 13 Tests in 2018, although he featured for South Africa ‘A’ in two midweek matches against Munster and the Bristol Bears last year.

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“Jean-Luc du Preez was also cleared to join us from the beginning of this week, which means we had an opportunity to work with all the players at stages during the last three weeks, and that will bode well for us going into the Rugby Championship,” Nienaber remarked in a SA Rugby statement.

Hinting at the squad’s increasing readiness, the coach added: “We also have a clear picture now of the players who are fit and those who are on the road to full recovery to participate in the competition in the next few weeks.”

Nienaber will announce the Bok line-up to face the Wallabies on Tuesday.