South Africa was crushed in the quarter-final by New Zealand

Ngconde Balfour's request came after local media printed pictures of the players, naked, at "Camp Steel Wire".

The photos appeared to back up earlier reports that the players had been told to crawl naked through the bush and stand in a freezing lake at gunpoint.

The Springboks team manager had earlier denied the media reports.

Oath of silence

"Reports emerging from the Sprinbok camp oblige South African Rugby and the South African Rugby Football Union to act immediately and decisively," Mr Balfour said in a statement on Sunday.

Captain Krige would not recommend some parts of the training

The minister added that the public must know "complete details" of what "appears to have been rather extraordinarily unorthodox team preparations".

"I have already requested administrators to meet me this week and will extend the request to members of the team as well if I deem necessary."

The minister also said the Sprinbok players' oaths of silence about what took place at the "Kamp Staaldraad" in September should be "lifted without the fear of reprisals against them".

'Gunfire' training

Last week, South African newspapers reported that the players were told to climb into a foxhole, where recordings of the English national anthem and New Zealand's haka, or war-chant, were played.

Ice-cold water was also poured over their heads.

The players were also abandoned in the bush at night with only an egg, a chicken and a match. They were told to cook a meal, but not allowed to eat it.

When they were finally given a chance to sleep, they were woken every 15 minutes by gunfire.

Captain Corne Krige said he would not recommend some parts of the camp for future rugby training but added that lot of elements were good for team spirit.

The exercises were held at a location north of Pretoria, the newspapers reported.

However, the intensive preparations, organised by a former special services operative for the South African police, failed to bring results on the pitch.