South African head coach has named his 36-man extended squad for the international games in 2015, as well as an extra 13 players who are either injured or unavailable.
Both Ulster's Ruan Pienaar and Leinster's Zane Kirchner are involved, but there is no space in the squad for some high profile name like Francois Hougaard, Juan de Jongh, or Jaco Kriel who dominated in Super Rugby this season.
Jean de Villiers is included in the injured players list after his horrific knee injury last November against Wales. It's positive that he looks like he could be back for the tournament.
A surprise inclusion is former Leinster loosehead prop Heinke van der Merwe. Van der Merwe left Leinster in 2013 after 80 appearances for the province, and could be in line to add to his four Springbok caps.
The South African Squad For 2015:
Looseheads: Steven Kitshoff, Tendai Mtawarira, Trevor Nyakane, Heinke van der Merwe, Marcel van der Merwe
Hookers: Schalk Britz, Bismarck du Plessis, Scarra Ntubeni, Adriaan Strauss
Tightheads: Jannie du Plessis, Vincent Koch, Frans Malherbe, Coenie Oosthuizen
Second Rows: Eben Etzebeth, Victor Matfield, Franco Mostert, Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit
Flankers: Willem Alberts, Schalk Burger, Marcell Coetzee, Siya Kolisi, Francois Louw, Ouja Mohoje, Heinrich Brussouw
No. 8: Warren Whiteley, Duane Vermuelen
Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk, Rudy Paige, Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez, Cobus Reinach
Outhalves: Elton Jantjies, Handre Pollard, Morne Steyn, Patrick Lambie
Wingers: Bryan Habana, Cornal Hendricks, Lwazi Mvovo, JP Pietersen
Centres: Damian de Allende, Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Lionel Mapoe, Jan Serfontein, Frans Steyn
Fullbacks: Zane Kirchner, Jesse Kriel, Willie le Roux
Picture credit: Paul Mohan / SPORTSFILE
