Despite the poor run of results, the bulk of the squad that toured New Zealand and Australia last month have been retained, with lock Andries Bekker and scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar unavailable due to injury and lock Bakkies Botha suspended.
Skipper John Smit, who has been widely criticised for being way off the pace of the games in Australasia, is in no immediate danger of losing his place as hooker Bismarck du Plessis is just returning from injury and has not been named in the official squad, although he has been invited to join them for a four-day preliminary camp starting in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Openside flank Heinrich Brussouw, a potent force at the breakdowns for the Springboks last year, has also been invited to join the group as he continues his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury.
The Springboks play the All Blacks in Soweto on Aug. 21, before facing Australia in Pretoria on Aug. 28 and Bloemfontein on Sept. 4.
The final squad of 24 for the three home tests will be announced on Friday, while the match 22 for the game against the All Blacks at Soccer City, the venue for the football World Cup final last month, will be announced on Aug. 17.
Squad
Forwards - BJ Botha, Schalk Burger, Jannie du Plessis, Ryan Kankowski, Francois Louw, Victor Matfield, Tendai Mtawarira, Dewald Potgieter, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Danie Rossouw, John Smit, Juan Smith, Pierre Spies, Gurthro Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde, Flip van der Merwe (Bulls).
Backs - Gio Aplon, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Ricky Januarie, Butch James, Zane Kirchner, Wynand Olivier, JP Pietersen, Francois Steyn, Morne Steyn.
(Editing by Justin Palmer
Bok squad for final leg Tri Nations
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Bok squad for final leg Tri Nations
“That made me feel very special and underlined to me that Ulster is more than a team, it is a community and a rugby family"
Rory Best
Rory Best