South Africa's national rugby team have gathered in Pretoria for their first official training camp of 2019. The squad are preparing for the upcoming Rugby Championship before they shift their focus to the World Cup in Japan, where they will aim to win the global show-piece for the 3rd time. CGTN's Sias du Plessis has more.

The two-time world champions will be without inspirational captain Siya Kolisi for the shortened Rugby Championship tournament after the Springbok skipper suffered a knee injury, but national coach Rassie Erasmus is confident that if the return to play protocol is done correctly, that the cap veteran will be ready for the World Cup.

RASSIE ERASMUS SOUTH AFRICA COACH "He has got more or less the same injury as Warren Whiteley, obviously Warren they didn't treat as conservative, then eventually he was out for quite a long time, so we are just going a little more conservative with Siya to make sure that he is ready for the World Cup, which is the most important tournament of the year."

Erasmus understands that it has been a frustrating time in South African sport, and he admits that the squad is eager to make the country proud, but he will need to build the confidence amongst the men in green and gold first to achieve his objectives.

RASSIE ERASMUS "The objective is to win the Rugby Championship, build confidence, go into the World Cup, play the best team against Japan, and then two weeks later play our best team against New Zealand."

The Springbok coach says his he has been impressed with the commitment from the 39 players assembled in the South African capital, and maintains that the door is still open for some players to stake a claim for a spot, ahead of the opening Rugby Championship game against Australia in Johannesburg.

RASSIE ERASMUS "We are going to go into the Australian test match with a few new combinations, but the pressure is probably more on me because the players, few is coming back from injury, and I want those players to express themselves, have a full go, use their talent, know the game plan, but don't have this gun against your head, if you don't perform you are out of the squad."

SIAS DU PLESSIS PRETORIA "The Springboks have only four official test matches before their World Cup campaign starts against their bitter rivals and the defending champions New Zealand on September 21st. It doesn't leave the group of players vying for a World Cup spot much time to impress the national coach in order to be the mix for the much-anticipated showdown against the All Blacks in Yokohama. Sias du Plessis, CGTN, Pretoria."