Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has released several players from the national rugby squad to allow them to rest ahead of the start of the Rugby Championship early next month.
The majority of the players who have been sent home are those who featured in the two-Test series against Ireland.
With the Boks next match against tier two side, Portugal, in Bloemfontein this weekend, Erasmus has decided to pick several rising stars for the match, including a number of uncapped players.
The uncapped players in action on Saturday are Andre-Hugo Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Ruan Venter, Morne van den Berg, Quan Horn, Phepsi Buthelezi and Johan Grobbelaar. Seven other players have less than 10 Test caps to their name, including new skipper Salman Moerat.
Released playersThe training group has now been cut from 41 to 25 players for this weekends Portugal Test following the expanded squad wrapping up their main preparations for the match on Wednesday.
