Rugby Union: Pienaar and Stransky left out by Springboks

Francois Pienaar, South Africa's victorious World Cup captain, and his match-winning stand-off Joel Stransky have been omitted from the Springbok squad to tour Argentina, France and Wales in November and December.

Pienaar last captained the South African side in their Tri-Nations defeat against New Zealand in Cape Town on 10 August when he had to come off with a neck injury. The Natal No 8, Gary Teichmann, who took over for the three-Test series against the All Blacks which followed, retains the captaincy for the tour.

Stransky, who kicked the drop goal which secured the Springboks a 15- 12 win over the All Blacks in the World Cup final in June last year, has struggled to find form this season and was even dropped by Western Province for the final stages of the 1996 Currie Cup competition.

The Springbok coach, Andre Markgraaff, said: "On merit, Francois can't make the Springbok Test side. It was a unanimous decision by the management and by me. Francois does not form part of the vision and future of South African rugby... We were very happy with the performance of our loose trio in our last three Tests."

Pienaar, who heard of his omission from television, said: "Obviously I'm disappointed. It's been a wonderful three years and a wonderful experience being right at the top where only two other captains have been. I'm now at the bottom but I'll be back again...I will work hard. I will ask people what is wrong with my game and put it right."

The South African Rugby Football Union president, Louis Luyt, and chief executive, Rian Oberholzer, denied allegations of ulterior motives behind Pienaar's exclusion. "Francois Pienaar is a much loved and respected rugby player who has given his all for country and province," Oberholzer said. "To suggest he has been left out for any other reason than the selectors feel it is for the best of Springbok rugby is complete fiction," Oberholzer said.

Luyt described suggestions in South African newspapers that there was a vendetta against Pienaar as "preposterous".