Loose forwards Jean Deysel and Dewald Potgieter, utility back Francois Hougaard, and wing Jongi Nokwe were the only four players of the non-Tri-Nations Boks retained for the remainder of the tour.
Potgieter is likely to earn his first Test cap against Italy in Udine on Saturday, where he will most likely secure a place on the bench. He covers three back row positions and, because of doubts about the fitness of lock Andries Bekker, Danie Rossouw will probably have to cover lock from the bench.
Nokwe all but cemented his place in the squad with a sparkling performance in the 24-23 loss to Saracens at Wembley on Tuesday. He scored two tries, and his running off the ball and searching for work were impressive.
Deysel is a great physical presence and has forced his way into the Test squad after a thunderous display against Saracens. He wasn't in the original 37-man squad.
He might yet earn a cap against Italy as well because the Bok management is still not 100% sure that Schalk Burger will recover from a rib injury.
Hougaard's selection is surprising after his mediocre 40 minutes against Saracens, which included having a kick charged-down that led to a try for Saracens No8 Ernst Joubert.
But he does cover every position in the backline, except flyhalf, so there is some logic to his continued stay.
There is also still a cloud over hooker Bismarck du Plessis because of his rib injury, and Adriaan Strauss will start in the No2 jersey against the Azzuri if the Sharks front-ranker is ruled out. With Bandise Maku being sent home, John Smit will have to cover at hooker if Du Plessis is out.
The Boks' injury problems were compounded when tighthead prop CJ van der Linde cried off with a hamstring injury only 10 minutes into the match at Wembley.
Van der Linde has spent the better part of the past eight months on the sidelines at Irish province Leinster with foot-ligament damage.
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