Northampton Saints coach Chris Boyd says Cobus Reinach’s skin colour will count against him when it comes to Springbok selection.

The 29-year-old scrumhalf, who missed out on the Boks’ 2015 World Cup squad when coach Heyneke Meyer opted for the uncapped Rudy Paige instead, has not worn the green and gold since August 2015 when he won the last of his 10 Test caps.

While Reinach has been in excellent form for the Saints, scoring 13 tries in 17 games, Boyd believes it will be tough for him to earn a Bok recall ahead of the 2019 World Cup.

‘You’d say he has played his way back into contention in this context, but it’s not as simple as that,’ Boyd told The Rugby Paper.

‘There’s complexity around South African rugby and their selection that exists and it does have an impact – it would be highly unlikely for them to take three white halfbacks to the World Cup.’

Faf de Klerk was the Boks ‘ first-choice scrumhalf in 2018, with Ivan van Zyl and Embrose Papier also in the squad.

‘Only South Africa will know what the situation will look like, but Cobus has certainly put his hand up,’ Boyd added. ‘Like everyone else here, we’re encouraging guys to chase international honours and I wish him well.’