British and Irish Lions

The Springbok squad will be trimmed to 24 players over the weekend and the squad who will contest the remaining matches of the Tri-Nations will eventually be only 22 players strong.

The original 30-man Springbok squad was reduced to 28 when Peter Grant and Ryan Kankowski were forced to withdraw due to shoulder injuries.

"We are playing at home which will make any additional call-ups easier to manage, so this presents us with an opportunity to release some of the players to their respective provinces for the Currie Cup," said head coach Peter de Villiers.

De Villiers again stressed that the Springboks will not treat Argentina lightly when the two teams meet on Saturday, August 9 in the Mandela Challenge Test at Coca-Cola Park (previously Ellis Park) in Johannesburg.

"Argentina is a quality side and they are especially strong at set pieces, which will be a good test for us.

"This match will help us tremendously in our preparation for the All Blacks and the Wallabies."

The Springboks will enjoy a training-free day today and the squad will instead participate in the annual sponsors golf day at Pebble Rock on the outskirts of Pretoria. On Saturday they travel to Secunda for the popular Sasol Fan day, which includes on-field training and a signing session.

The Boks then travel to Johannesburg on Sunday where they will continue their preparations for the Mandela Challenge against Argentina.

Having become only the ninth Welshman to pick up a Heineken Cup winners medal, Gethin Jenkins is now getting ready for his next challenge - holding on to his British & Irish Lions Test spot.

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.