Adrian Jacobs is called up by South Africa

SHARKS centre Adrian Jacobs has been drafted into the South Africa ruby squad as precautionary cover for Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh.

Both were injured during Saturday's Currie Cup final in Durban and will be assessed further today before a final call is made by Peter de Villiers.

The Springboks face Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

Jacobs, who has 30 caps for the Springboks, was in the preliminary 39-man squad named two weeks ago, but failed to make the final list.

De Jongh has an ankle problem and De Villiers a groin injury. Coach De Villiers said: "We will monitor Juan and Jean's progress in the next couple of days. We have had a number of injuries among our senior centres so we decided it was essential to have some experienced cover on hand and in the group just in case."

The world champions have already suffered one injury withdrawal since the 30-man squad was announced after scrum-half Ricky Januarie pulled out. The Western Province No 9 was examined by national team doctor Craig Roberts following the final when a knee injury was deemed too serious for him to travel. No replacement has yet been named. "We've got five days to prepare for a big Test match," added De Villiers. "everyone of them is like that and that's the attitude we will all have."

South Africa squad Backs: Gio Aplon, Bjorn Basson, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Adrian Jacobs Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Elton Jantjies, Ricky Januarie, Patrick Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo, Ruan Pienaar, Frans Steyn, Morne Steyn. Forwards: Willem Alberts, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger, Keegan Daniel, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Alistair Hargreaves, Ryan Kankowski, Victor Matfield, Tendai Mtawarira, Coenie Oosthuizen, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Juan Smith, Pierre Spies, Adriaan Strauss, CJ van der Linde, Flip van der Merwe.