Then there were eight Boks: Nienaber eager to put Springboks 'on same page' for World Cup defence

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber is hoping to ensure everyone is on the same page ahead of the Rugby World Cup after a training camp concluded on Friday.

In the past three weeks, 14 players took part in a Springbok training camp in Cape Town and another eight will take part in alignment sessions this weekend.

These camps are part of the Boks' preparations for their title defence at the Rugby World Cup in France in September and October.

The Springboks management will host eight players in Cape Town who recently took part in the United Rugby Championship (URC) in two off-field sessions on Saturday and Sunday.

The eight players include Joseph Dweba (hooker), Deon Fourie (utility forward), Marco van Staden (flanker), Evan Roos (No 8), Herschel Jantjies and Grant Williams (scrumhalves), Manie Libbok (flyhalf) and Sbu Nkosi (wing).

"We've planned to host alignment sessions - some in person, such as at these two camps, and others online with the overseas-based players - to ensure that everyone is on the same page in terms of what is expected of them, where we are as a team, and the areas of our game that we would like to improve," said Nienaber.

"With the players we are actively tracking being scattered around the country and the world, it means we need to be innovative in the way we interact with them. But the most important factor is that we have regular communication with them as we work toward the Rugby World Cup.

"The players attending the sessions over the weekend have been participating in the United Rugby Championship, so we are pleased to get this opportunity to work with them face-to-face."

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The focus during this period has been to develop