Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says he has decided not to use Franco Mostert in Saturday’s Test against England at Twickenham.

The Springbok lock has been caught in a contractual dispute between the Lions and English club Gloucester.

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When Mostert was included in the Springbok squad for the November Tests, there was little clarity over his availability as he was officially listed as a Lions player, but Erasmus confirmed on Monday that he intends not to use the 27-year-old.

‘It is such a touchy thing at this stage,’ Erasmus told reporters in Kensington. ‘For a person to settle in at Gloucester, we just decided not to use him this weekend, personally for him to settle at his new club.’

Erasmus confirmed that Mostert was technically available, but would not go any further on the subject.

‘I think if we went into detail we could have selected him, but it’s not worth going into that. He is a great player and started most of the Test matches [this year] at No 5 for us so he will be missed.

‘But we are fortunate that Pieter-Steph [du Toit] has played there a lot, Lood de Jager is fit again, RG Snyman is here. So we have some options. We will miss him but it is fair to give him time to settle in.’

Fullback Willie le Roux and wing Cheslin Kolbe will also be unavailable as the match falls outside the Test window, but the Japan-based duo of Duane Vermeulen and Gio Aplon are up for selection.

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