The flu bug really got stuck into the Springbok team this week. Utility back Percy Montgomery was the latest addition to the list of players who have succumbed when he was confined to bed on Tuesday.

The blonde fullback and prop Robbie Kempson missed out on the afternoon's training session at St David's Marist College. Montgomery did his gymnasium session in the morning, but after lunch felt too weak to participate in the on-field session. It was the second practice session Kempson missed due to the flu.

Since the Boks assembled here on Thursday, Joost van der Westhuizen, Thinus Delport, Chester Williams and Corne Krige have been laid low by the virus. Flank Johan Erasmus also complained about not feeling too well, but took part in the training session anyway. Team doctor Frans Verster on Tuesday expressed concern about the fact that the virus is spreading through the camp.

It is the first time the players aren't sharing rooms, but that didn't prevent the flu virus from wreaking havoc in the team. "We told the infected guys to stay away from the rest of the players and to stay in their rooms, but to no avail. It's very difficult, because they want to mix with the rest of the guys. There is no way in which you can regulate it."

On Tuesday De Wet Barry, who is battling a hamstring injury that he picked up in Sunday's session, had a run with physiotherapist Wayne Diesel, while coach Nick Mallett took the rest of the squad through their paces. He did some handling and agility exercises with his hamstring still heavily strapped.

Although the player proclaimed himself happy with the progress afterwards, Verster wasn't too optimistic about his prospects of running out on Saturday in the Tri-Nations Test at Ellis Park against the All Blacks. "It's getting better everyday," Barry said.

However, Verster said it would be difficult for Barry to be ready in time for the Test. "It's always more difficult to recover from your first hamstring injury. When you have regular problems with it, the rehabilitation process is much quicker. Realistically, I don't think De Wet is going to recover in time."

At Tuesday's training session, Robbie Fleck ran at inside centre, with Grant Esterhuizen on his outside. The Bok backline tried to get the communication and angles of running right and although there were a couple of mishaps, Mallett expressed his satisfaction with the execution of moves.

He also enticed the backs to express themselves on attack and do more things on instinct. The tight forwards did some scrummaging against the machine under the watchful eye of assistant coach Heyneke Meyer. Mallett will announce his team on Wednesday.

Possible Springbok team: Thinus Delport, Chester Williams, Grant Esterhuizen, Robbie Fleck, Breyton Paulse, Werner Swanepoel, Andre Vos (capt), Corne Krige, Johan Erasmus, Andre Venter, Mark Andrews, Cobus Visagie, Charl Marais, Robbie Kempson. Substitutes: Joost van der Westhuizen, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Percy Montgomery, John Smit, Warren Brosnihan, Ollie le Roux, Albert van den Berg.