Uncapped prop Frik Kirsten will join the Springboks in Paris after he was called up as an injury replacement for DHL WP’s Frans Malherbe, following South Africa’s 28-0 victory over Scotland in Edinburgh on Sunday.

The national selectors named the 25-year-old Kirsten as Malherbe’s replacement, with the experienced Jannie du Plessis and Pat Cilliers (the latter also of DHL Western Province) unavailable because of injuries. Kirsten will join the Springboks in Paris as soon as possible.

Malherbe, who started in both Test victories on the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour against Wales and Scotland, suffered a rib cartilage injury at Murrayfield and was forced to leave

the field in the 37th minute.

“We’ve been watching Frik quite closely over the last few seasons and he’s really done very well,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer. “He’s played for the SA Under-20 team, took part in one of our training camps last year and was the next player on our standby list.

“I feel sorry for Frans as he’s performed strongly in his two first Tests. He certainly has a great future ahead of him and it was good to see him take the step up to Test match rugby.”

Malherbe, 22, played two Tests for his country this month – against Wales and Scotland – joining fellow DHL WP and DHL Stormers stars Scarra Ntubeni, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Duane Vermeulen, Louis Schreuder, Jean de Villiers and Gio Aplon on tour with the Boks.