Sale quintet called up by Springboks

RASSIE ERASMUS heaped praise on Sale Sharks after the Premiership club had five players named in the Springboks squad to face the Lions.

The South Africa director of rugby has announced Coenie Oosthuizen, Lood de Jager, Dan du Preez, Jean-Luc du Preez and Faf de Klerk in his 46-man group.

Erasmus said: ‘The nice thing about the Sale set-up, playing with Faf at nine, the Du Preez brothers jumping together in the line-out — they are in sync.

‘Look, it’s terrible to a lose player because South Africa rugby doesn’t have the money to keep them, but when you lose them to a set-up like Sale, then well done to Sale and well done to them. We’re very chuffed with what’s going on at Sale.’

Erasmus revealed fitness concerns over Duane Vermeulen and has picked Leicester’s Jasper Wiese as cover. ‘You can’t ignore Jasper’s form. He’s been the outstanding guy,’ he added.