Injured Marcell Coetzee has not travelled with a 36-man Springbok training squad to Bloemfontein for a four-day World Cup camp.
The group consists of players who were part of the Springboks’ recent successful Rugby Championship campaign and the ‘farewell Test’ against Argentina in Pretoria.
On Saturday, Coetzee left the field in the first half with what has been described as both a head knock and concussion.
After the game, Rassie Erasmus hinted that Coetzee is still in line for World Cup selection despite the injury, but he was unable to join the group in Bloemfontein on Sunday.
The camp is designed to refocus the group on the World Cup campaign, with the final announcement of the 31-man squad taking place on Monday, 26 August, at 3pm in Johannesburg.
Apart from a few team building exercises, the Springbok coaches and conditioning staff will put the training squad through some field sessions and a series of technical activities as the Boks continue to refine their plan for Japan.
Four players who were part of the match-23 that played against Argentina in Pretoria on Saturday, were released back to their provinces for Currie Cup duty.
The four are the Western Province trio of Wilco Louw (prop), Scarra Ntubeni (hooker) and Dillyn Leyds (wing), as well as Vodacom Blue Bulls loose forward Marco van Staden.
The Springbok group will have a few closed practice sessions in the Free State capital before breaking camp on Thursday, after which the 31-man squad will then gather in Johannesburg for the official announcement of the World Cup squad.
Forwards (21): Schalk Brits (Bulls), Lood de Jager (Bulls), Thomas du Toit (Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse, France), Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), Lizo Gqoboka (Bulls), Steven Kitshoff (Stormers), Vincent Koch (Saracens, England), Siya Kolisi (Stormers), Francois Louw (England), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Lions), Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers), Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Gloucester, England), Trevor Nyakane (Bulls), Marvin Orie (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Lions), RG Snyman (Bulls), Duane Vermeulen (Bulls).
Backs (15): Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Damian de Allende (Stormers), Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks, England), André Esterhuizen (Sharks), Warrick Gelant (Bulls), Elton Jantjies (Lions), Herschel Jantjies (Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse, France), Jesse Kriel (Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Sbu Nkosi (Sharks), Willie le Roux (Verblitz, Japan), Handré Pollard (Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Saints, England), Frans Steyn (Montpellier, France).
Photo: EPA/Jan Touzeau
