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Cape Town - Springbok coach Allister Coetzee says Rohan Janse van Rensburg can count himself unlucky not to have been picked in the squad for the end-of-year tour.
The Lions centre has had a tough year battling a knee injury, but he recovered from that to put in an impressive display throughout what was a largely disappointing Currie Cup campaign for the union.
With Jan Serfontein unavailable for the Boks as he acclimatises to life at new club Montpellier, there is an opening in the No 12 jersey for the first Test against Ireland on November 11.
Janse van Rensburg, who played the final Test of last year against Wales in Cardiff, would have been considered a possibility in that position but Coetzee opted to leave him out of the traveling squad.
Instead, the national coach has opted for Cheetahs centre Francois Venter and the Sharks' Lukhanyo Am, while Damian de Allende also retains his place in the set-up.
Coetzee, addressing media in Johannesburg on Sunday, explained his decision not to call up Janse van Rensburg.
"After a long (injury) lay-off it wasn't an easy return for him," Coetzee said.
"For me the other players have just shown that confidence in the way they've played, like Lukhanyo (Am) and Francois Venter.
"We know what Rohan can give to the team and he was probably one of the unlucky players not to have made it, but what we are looking for at the moment is industrious centres. I'm not saying he's not an industrious centre. We have to replace like-for-like and that is what Jan has brought to this team.
"It's just about momentum for us, but it's about his chasing ability, his work rate in general ... that's the big plus about Jan Serfontein.
"If you look at a player like Francois Venter, he is very industrious. Falling back, being a part of the chase line, making back-to-back tackles ... that is what we're looking for from an industrious No 12."
The Boks will also play Tests against France, Italy and Wales on their tour.
