Roelof Smit likely to be out of South Africa's European tour with injury

South Africa are likely to miss the services of flanker Roelof Smit for the remaining of their European tour following an arm injury.

The 23-year-old was a part of the South African side that drew their game 31-31 against the Barbarians in Wembley on Saturday. He suffered the injury during the training session on Monday in London.

Fullback Jesse Kriel has also been ruled out of the Springboks' Tests against England, Italy and Wales with a leg injury he sustained during the game against Barbarians where he was replaced at the start of the second half. Lions centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg has been named as Kriel's replacement in the squad.

Springboks coach Allister Coetzee said Smit's European tour is likely to be over.

"He's at the hospital and we are awaiting the result of a scan but it looks like a possibility he might lose out on the rest of the tour," said Coetzee.

"It could be a bicep tear. We'll get confirmation but it might be the end of his tour. He was attempting a tackle and there was a hyperextension of the arm."

However, the addition of JP Petersen, Bryan Habana and Warren Whiteley to the Springboks squad on Sunday will provide some respite for Coetzee, who has been facing criticism with his team's recent performances.

South Africa have won their previous five encounters against England at Twickenham but Coetzee played down the mental advantage and instead labelled his team as the underdogs facing a resurgent home side.

"A week is a long time in rugby. We feel like we started last night, we had a full complement of the Springboks team at our first team meeting.

"You get the feeling it's a big week, the start of the so-called official tour. We are raring to go.

"We are definitely the underdogs, we are playing the second-best team in the world who are on a nine-game winning streak. They won all three Tests in Australia so there is a lot of confidence in the English side.

"For every team the belief comes with a win, one win, and that is what we are looking for, that performance.

"History can't help us on Saturday but you can be sure the boys will be up for this one."