LIVE | Au revoir, Bokke! A green and gold send-off at OR Tambo

SEND-OFF OF CHAMPIONS AS BOKS DEPART FOR EUROPE

South Africans will bid their adieus to the Springboks as they depart for Europe from Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday.

The first destination on the travel itinerary is Cardiff where they kick off a preliminary warm-up tour before their Rugby World Cup title defence commences in France in September.

The Springbok squad has been settled, in a manner of speaking, after revelations earlier this week that Handre Pollard (calf), Lukhanyo Am (knee) and Lood de Jager (chest problem) were not included in the 33-man squad due to injury.

The trio has, however, been named on the standby list that also includes Jean-Luc du Preez, Thomas du Toit, Joseph Dweba, Evan Roos, Gerhard Steenekamp and Herschel Jantjies.

In a pair of warm-up games in which many will hope for further glimpses into the plans of the Bok brains trust, Jacques Nienaber's men will take on Wales on Saturday, 19 August, before a tasty 'friendly' against the All Blacks at Twickenham on Friday, 25 August.

They open their World Cup campaign against Scotland in Marseille on 10 September. In Pool B, the Boks will also face Romania (Bordeaux, 17 September), Ireland (Paris, 23 September), and Tonga (Marseille, 1 October).

It's highly likely that an unenviable encounter with either hosts Les Bleus or old foes New Zealand awaits on the other side of the pool stages.

Fullback: Willie le RouxUtility back: Damian WillemseWings: Canan Moodie, Cheslin Kolbe, Makazole Mapimpi, Kurt-Lee ArendseCentres: Andre Esterhuizen, Jesse Kriel, Damian de AllendeFlyhalves: Manie LibbokScrumhalves: Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse, Grant Williams, Cobus ReinachProps: Vincent Koch, Ox Nche, Frans Malherbe, Trevor Nyakane, Steven