Cape Town - Springboks Duane Vermeulen, Damian de Allende and Lionel Mapoe were all ruled out of the first Test against France because of injury, it was confirmed on Monday.

Vermeulen picked up a shoulder injury while leading French club side Toulon in the Top 14 final on Sunday evening against Clermont.

The experienced Springbok loose forward will undergo further examinations when he joins up with the Springbok squad on Tuesday in Pretoria.