Lions hooker Malcolm Marx is the only new face in the 31-man Springbok squad named for the Rugby Championships by coach Allister Coetzee on Saturday. The inclusion of the bruising front rower was no surprise after his superb performances throughout the 2016 Super Rugby campaign made it impossible to ignore his claims.The coach upped his tally of overseas-based players to six while losing Super Rugby finalists the Lions provide nine players to the squad.Coetzee unsurprisingly omitted two of his most experienced backline players by jettisoning wing JP Pietersen and fullback Willie le Roux. The pair have 106 Test caps between them.With Pat Lambie left out after failing to show satisfactory recovery from concussion suffered in June‚ the Springboks’ most experienced backline player is the recalled Bryan Habana with 117 caps.Also recalled were Francois Hougaard with 35 caps‚ but he last played a Test against Wales in November 2014.The Worcester Warriors player is currently with the Blitzboks at the Rio Olympics but will join the camp as soon as that tournament is over. Juan de Jongh‚ who is also with the Blitzboks‚ was another expected recall to the squad.De Jongh has 14 Test caps and fellow centre Damian de Allende has 16. Habana aside‚ it’s a callow back division.There were also recalls for flank Teboho Mohoje‚ prop Vincent Koch and the mercurial utility back Johan Goosen.Starring for French club Racing Metro at centre during the past season‚ Goosen offers options at centre‚ flyhalf and fullback.“I’m excited to get Malcolm Marx involved with the Boks on the back of a very strong Super Rugby season‚” said Coetzee. “It’s also great to welcome back Oupa Mohoje and Vincent Koch to the Boks – both of them have worked incredibly hard and played very well recently.“Johan Goosen has been in outstanding form for his club in France and gives us a number of options in the backline with his versatility‚ while Francois Hougaard‚ Juan de Jongh and Bryan Habana were previously not available because of Springbok Sevens commitments.“We are fortunate to welcome back an experienced player such as Bryan‚ who will be able to provide great guidance to our young backs‚ while Juan and Francois also bring vast experience with them.”The Bok coach explained the decision not to select the experienced Pietersen and Le Roux:“JP and I recently held discussions and I have decided to give him a much-needed break because he has played a lot of rugby the past three years. Although he has joined English club Leicester‚ he will still be available for the Springboks. The same applies to Willie‚ who has just signed with Wasps.“The other players who were part of the squad in June but have missed out on selection‚ will continue to be part of the process going forward. We have to build depth because this is a long haul and a tough competition‚ and they are not out of our plans.”Coetzee decided that Chean Roux would take charge of the Bok defensive coaching duties. Roux‚ who previously assisted the Boks as part of the Mobi Unit on refereeing and technical aspects‚ fills the vacancy left by Jacques Nienaber who recently left SA Rugby to take up a post at Irish club Munster.The Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship is: Ruan Combrinck‚ Damian de Allende‚ Lodewyk de Jager‚ Juan de Jongh‚ Francois de Klerk‚ Pieter-Steph du Toit‚ Eben Etzebeth‚ Johan Goosen‚ Bryan Habana‚ Francois Hougaard‚ Elton Jantjies‚ Steven Kitshoff‚ Vincent Koch‚ Jaco Kriel‚ Jesse Kriel‚ Francois Louw‚ Lionel Mapoe‚ Malcolm Marx‚ Bongi Mbonambi‚ Teboho Mohoje‚ Franco Mostert‚ Tendai Mtawarira‚ Lwazi Mvovo‚ Sikhumbuzo Notshe‚ *Trevor Nyakane‚ Rudy Paige‚ Julian Redelinghuys‚ Morné Steyn‚ Adriaan Strauss (captain)‚ Duane Vermeulen‚ Warren Whiteley.*Subject to medical clearance-TMG Digital/TMG Sport..