Heads coach Jacques Nienaber invited 17 players to attend the first week of camp. Half backs Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) and Johan Goosen (Sharks) focused on rehabilitation from their injuries, while there were no players from the URC semi-finalists, the Stormers and Bulls.
Props: Thomas du Toit (Sharks), Ntuthuko Mchunu (Sharks), Ox Nche (Sharks)
Hookers: Malcolm Marx (Spears, Japan), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks)
Loose forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Verblitz, Japan), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Kwagga Smith (Júbilo, Japan)
Utility forward: Franco Mostert (Heat, Japan)
Scrum Halves: Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks), Grant Williams (Sharks)
Outside Half: Elton Jantjies (Red Hurricanes, Japan)
Midfielders: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Eagles, Japan)
Outside Backs: Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Willie le Roux (Verblitz, Japan), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks)
The players will have this weekend off before resuming training on Monday. As well as facing Wayne Pivac’s Welsh side three times – in Pretoria (2 July), Bloemfontein (9 July) and Cape Town (16 July) – the world champions are due to play New Zealand, Australia and Argentina home and away in the Rugby Championship.
“Our focus was on the fundamental skills this week as we had a limited number of players in Pretoria, but we are satisfied with the foundation laid. We are excited about the next few weeks after seeing the players’ enthusiasm and energy levels on the field,” said Nienaber.
“We obviously had to manage some of the players’ workload, especially the Sharks players following their exit from the URC last weekend. This was part our planning from the outset, and we believe the strides made this week will be beneficial as we continue our preparations with three weeks to go before our opening Test against Wales.
“We are expecting the size of our training squad to grow in the next few weeks, and we are ready for any eventuality. We obviously want our South African teams to perform well and advance to the URC final.
“Nothing substitutes game time and pressure like play-off rugby, especially in such a tough competition.”
Nienaber will shortly name a squad of close to 42 players for the international season.
