World champion Springboks face 'very difficult' task picking World Cup squad

Twenty-six of the 33 Springboks who won the last Rugby World Cup in Japan four years ago are contenders for places in the next edition in France, starting on 8 September.

And at least 24 of the survivors are likely to be included in the 2023 squad, which will be named at a TV studio in Johannesburg on Tuesday (14:00).

The unlucky two could be scrumhalves Herschel Jantjies and Cobus Reinach, the second and third choices behind Faf de Klerk at the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

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"We have given 38 players opportunities to play in four games and it is going to be a very difficult squad selection meeting," admits South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber.

There are 42 contenders for the places, but inspirational captain and flanker Siya Kolisi, star flyhalf Handre Pollard and prop Ox Nche have not played this season due to injuries.

A Springbok insider told AFP Kolisi is "looking good" for warm-up matches against Wales in Cardiff on 19 August and New Zealand in London six days later.

Pollard, who kicked 22 points in the last final, is training alone as he recovers from a calf injury and his chances of facing the Welsh are "no more than 50 percent".

Scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse, whose father died recently, also missed the three Rugby Championship matches and a warm-up Test in Argentina at the weekend.

Seeking a record fourth World Cup title, the Boks are in Pool B with Ireland, currently the top-ranked Test team, Scotland, Romania and Tonga.

Should South Africa and Ireland occupy the top two places in the final standings, they will face the winners and runners-up from Pool A, almost certainly France and New Zealand.

AFP Sport looks at some of the tough decisions facing