South Africa named 11 uncapped players in a preliminary 39-man training squad on Saturday for its end-of-year tour to Europe, where the under-pressure Springboks will be without injured captain John Smit.

Three uncapped backs, including young five-eighths Patrick Lambie and Elton Jantjies, and eight new forwards are in the group as the world champion looks to shrug off a dismal Tri-Nations campaign in its five-match tour of Britain and Ireland next month.

Smit, who had back surgery last month, prop Gurthro Steenkamp, centre Jaque Fourie and long-term absentees Fourie du Preez, Andries Bekker and Heinrich Brussow will all be missing as the Boks attempt to end a run of five defeats in their last six tests.

The players will join up for a two-day camp in Johannesburg on Friday.

The final squad for matches against England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Barbarians will be announced after the Currie Cup final on October 30, the South African Rugby Union said.

Coach Peter de Villiers is still in charge after he survived a review by his SARU bosses following the disastrous Tri-Nations defense.

De Villiers suggested this season that he would rest some of his leading stars for the tour ahead of the World Cup next year - but he is now under pressure for results and is likely to take his strongest possible combination to Europe.

Senior Springboks Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Schalk Burger, Bakkies Botha, Juan Smith and 101-test veteran Victor Matfield were all included in the training squad.

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