BOKS LOSE STARS

RASSIE Erasmus will cobble together a much-changed Springbok team for Saturday’s tour finale against Wales after confirming that 15 manne will return to their clubs in Japan and South Africa.

Before the 33-man squad left SA for the five-match tour, Erasmus said he would have all of his players available for the Wales game, which falls outside the international window, but he has since had a change of heart.

On a case-by-case basis, he is freeing up players to return to Japan and to the United Rugby Championship (URC), which resumes this week.

The coach said he would have around 25 players available for the game in Cardiff.

The starting props in Dublin, Thomas du Toit and Boan Venter, are certain to return to Bath and Edinburgh, respectively, and RG Snyman will go back to Leinster.

Erasmus wysed: “We are going to lose quite a few players.

“Grant [Williams] is going back to the Sharks; he must play there. We have spoken to our URC friends back in South Africa, and some players need to go back to their provinces, so we will train this week with only 25 players in the group.

“We will assess the injuries and then make some calls. There are quite a few guys who must also go back to Japan. Jesse [Kriel] can’t play, and some of the Japanese clubs asked us nicely for their players They helped us out with the Japan match that was outside the window, and this match is also outside the window.

“It is the same with Wales; they have also got a couple of players playing in the Premiership. I guess there are about 14 or 15 guys who won’t be available this week. And obviously, a guy like Edwill [van der Merwe] won’t return to the squad.”

Van der Merwe went home last week for the birth of his laaitie.

Erasmus added: “Manie [Libbok] is another going back to Japan.”