KEY POINTS:
Next month's Tri-Nations test in Christchurch has been dealt a blow, with reports confirming Springboks coach Jake White will leave behind 20 of his top players.
South Africa's Sunday Times and Sunday Tribune newspapers both ran the story, predicting White's 30-man squad for the Sydney and Christchurch tests on July 7 and 14 will be without most of his Bulls and Sharks players who contested the Super 14 final.
Loose forward Bobby Skinstad is tipped to lead a side without such stars as yesterday's captain, Victor Matfield, Schalk Burger and Bryan Habana.
The Times quoted White as saying it would be a "ludicrous risk" to travel with his best squad in World Cup year.
He said yesterday's 21-26 loss to the All Blacks in Durban "proved how fatigued our guys are".
White hinted at the move last week.
"I've made it quite clear: there's a World Cup coming up, the All Blacks pulled 22 guys from the Super 14 which I wasn't able to do because our franchises didn't feel it was necessary.
"New Zealand, Ireland, England and France have done it, so we've got to make sure we do whatever's best to give ourselves a chance to win the World Cup."
- NZPA
