FAST FACTS

Contracted Springboks with more than 50 caps:

Victor Matfield (age 33) 105 caps, debut June 2001; John Smit (33) 102, June 2000; Bakkies Botha (31) 72, November 2002; Juan Smith (29) 69, June 2003; CJ van der Linde (30) 69, November 2002; Bryan Habana (27) 68, November 2004; Jean de Villiers (30) 67, November 2002; Schalk Burger (28 on Wednesday) 63, October 2003; Jaque Fourie (28) 62, October 2003; Fourie du Preez (29) 55, June 2004; Danie Rossouw (32) 54, October 2003.

Number of players the defending world champions have retained at the subsequent tournament:

1987:New Zealand retained 13; lost in semifinals; 1991:Australia retained 13; lost in quarterfinals; 1995:South Africa retained 7; lost in semifinals; 1999: Australia retained 10; lost in final; 2003:England retained 13; lost in final.