A squad of 38 has been announced for the Springbok training squad ahead of the Inbound Tour during the winter months. This is what you need to know about this training squad before you exclaim in alarm over the exclusion of your favourite player:

No overseas-based players, including Andries Bekker (Japan) were considered for selection, not because of policy, but because their respective league finals would clash with the international touring dates.

The following players were not considered for selection owing to injury: JP Pietersen, Jaco Taute, Frans Steyn, Johan Goosen, Duane Vermeulen, Pat Cilliers and Frans Malherbe.

Forwards (19):

Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Jannie du Plessis, Coenie Oosthuizen, Wiehahn Herbst, Adriaan Strauss, Bismarck du Plessis, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Eben Etzebeth, Flip van der Merwe, Juandré Kruger, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Marcell Coetzee, Willem Alberts, Arno Botha, Lappies Labuschagne, Pierre Spies, Ryan Kankowski

Backs (19):

Jano Vermaak, Francois Hougaard, Pat Lambie, Morné Steyn, Elton Jantjies, Demetri Catrakilis, Jean de Villiers, Juan de Jongh, Jan Serfontein, Robert Ebersohn, JJ Engelbrecht, Bryan Habana, Lwazi Mvovo, Raymond Rhule, Lionel Mapoe, Bjorn Basson, Gio Aplon, Zane Kirchner, Willie le Roux

The training squad will assemble in Durban on Sunday.

These players have made the cut, after being excluded from the first training camp in Cape Town at the beginning of the year: players who were not part of the first training camp in Cape Town in April are: Gio Aplon (Stormers, wing/fullback), the Cheetahs’ trio of Trevor Nyakane (prop), Lappies Labuschagne (loose forward) and Willie le Roux (fullback/wing), Bulls duo of JJ Engelbrecht (centre/wing) and Lionel Mapoe (wing/centre), Wiehahn Herbst (Sharks, prop) and Demetri Catrakilis (Kings, flyhalf).

[Source : News24]