South Africa will be without Faf de Klerk, Cheslin Kolbe and World Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit for their Autumn Nations Series Tests against Wales, Scotland and England.
None of them made the 32-man squad announced by SA Rugby, with Sale Sharks scrum-half De Klerk sidelined by a hip injury and star wing Kolbe absent because of a knee problem.
No timescale has so far been put on De Klerk’s recovery, although some reports have claimed he could be out for up to five months.
Current world player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit was also not considered as he continues his recovery from a shoulder injury.
“It’s always unfortunate to lose players due to injury, but we have good depth in our squad and these are established players who have proven themselves at the highest level,” Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber told www.sarugby.co.za.
South Africa face Wales in Cardiff on November 6, then tackle Scotland seven days later, followed by England at Twickenham on November 20.
Frans Malherbe (neck) and RG Snyman (knee) are also out, with uncapped pair – lock Salmaan Moerat and scrum-half Grant Williams – among those included.
And there are four selected players based with Gallagher Premiership clubs in Leicester back-row forwards Jasper Wiese and Marco van Staden, Saracens prop Vincent Koch and Sale lock Lood de Jager.