The Springboks will miss Frans Steyn's physical presence © Getty Images

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South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has omitted backs JP Pietersen and Frans Steyn and forwards Duane Vermeulen and Andries Bekker from his latest Springboks training squad, confirming they won't be available for the team's June internationals.

Winger Pietersen, utility back Steyn and No.8 Vermeulen will be big absences for the Boks after they missed the 38-man squad for a training camp in Durban starting this weekend because of injury. The Springboks will also be without fly-half Johan Goosen, centre Jaco Taute and front-rowers Pat Cilliers and Frans Malherbe for the four-nation tournament with Scotland, Italy and Samoa in June. South African Rugby Union officials said that second-rower Bekker also wouldn't be considered for the three Tests because of his decision to leave for Japan at the end of the Super Rugby season.

Meyer did call in eight players who weren't involved in the season's first Springboks camp, including uncapped Cheetahs trio Trevor Nyakane, Lappies Labuschagne and Willie le Roux, and Southern Kings fly-half Demetri Catrakilis, the only Kings player in the national squad. Winger Gio Aplon was recalled, while JJ Engelbrecht and Lionel Mapoe of the Bulls and Sharks prop Wiehahn Herbst earned call-ups.

"It looks like most of the guys are improving weekly and a few new players have put up their hands, which is good to see with the first Test only a few weeks away," Meyer said.

Meyer will name his final squad for the four-nation tournament on June 1, and has been forced to consider new players this season - his second in charge of South Africa - after a string of seasoned regulars opted to move overseas for big-money contracts with European or Japanese clubs. Bekker, Pietersen, fly-half Morne Steyn, fullback Zane Kirchner, wing Bryan Habana and lock Juandre Kruger are all set to leave South Africa this year, while other top players have been linked with moves.

South Africa squad:

Forwards: Tendai Mtawarira, Jannie du Plessis, Wiehahn Herbst (Sharks), Trevor Nyakane, Coenie Oosthuizen, Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls), Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), Flip van der Merwe, Juandre Kruger (Bulls), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Stormers), Marcell Coetzee, Willem Alberts (Sharks), Arno Botha (Bulls), Lappies Labuschagne (Cheetahs), Pierre Spies (Bulls), Ryan Kankowski (Sharks).

Backs: Jano Vermaak, Francois Hougaard, Morne Steyn (Bulls), Pat Lambie (Sharks), Demetri Catrakilis (Southern Kings), Elton Jantjies, Jean de Villiers, Juan de Jongh (Stormers), Jan Serfontein (Bulls), Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs), JJ Engelbrecht (Bulls), Bryan Habana (Stormers), Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), Raymond Rhule (Cheetahs), Lionel Mapoe, Bjorn Basson (Bulls), Gio Aplon (Stormers), Zane Kirchner (Bulls), Willie le Roux (Cheetahs).