Cape Town - Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has dismissed media claims that he has fallen out with Toulon No 8 Duane Vermeulen, whose Test appearances this season have been severely curtailed by injuries.
"Duane called me to say 'Coach, based on my last outing with the Boks, I was not fit enough and my reputation took a bit of a knock.
"He added: 'I feel at this point I am not ready for international rugby'."
Coetzee said: "On top of that, Duane's wife is expecting their second baby in November - for those reasons he is not available for the end-of-year tour."
Vermeulen was left out of the 33-man Springbok squad named on Saturday to play England at Twickenham (November 12), Italy in Florence (November 19) and Wales in Cardiff (November 26).
He will also play no part in the match against the Barbarians at Wembley on November 5.