Springboks name six uncapped players in preliminary squad

South Africa named six uncapped players in a 49-man preliminary squad for their World Cup title defence in September and October.

The Springboks included untried Bulls props Dean Greyling and Werner Kruger, Lions flyhalf Elton Jantjies, Cheetahs loose forward Ashley Johnson and prop Coenie Oosthuizen, and Stormers number eight Duane Vermeulen.     

Coach Peter de Villiers selected 21 former World Cup winners and the team will be led by 2007 World Cup-winning captain John Smit and vice-captain Victor Matfield.     

“We have got an excellent blend of youth and experience as well as including some uncapped players who have forced their way into contention with their performances in Super Rugby,” Springbok coach Peter de Villiers said in a statement.     

Springbok preliminary squad — Willem Alberts (Sharks), Gio Aplon (Stormers), Bjorn Basson (Bulls), Andries Bekker (Stormers), Bakkies Botha (Bulls), BJ Botha (Ulster), Heinrich Brussouw (Cheetahs), Schalk Burger (Stormers), Juan de Jongh (Stormers), Jean de Villiers (Stormers), Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), Fourie du Preez (Bulls), Jaque Fourie (Stormers), Dean Greyling (Bulls), Bryan Habana (Stormers), Alistair Hargreaves (Sharks), Francois Hougaard (Bulls), Adrian Jacobs (Sharks), Butch James (Lions), Elton Jantjies (Lions), Enrico Januarie (Stormers), Ashley Johnson (Cheetahs), Ryan Kankowski (Sharks), Zane Kirchner (Bulls), Werner Kruger (Bulls), Patrick Lambie (Sharks), Francois Louw (Stormers), Victor Matfield (Bulls), Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), Johann Muller (Ulster), Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), Odwa Ndungane (Sharks), Wynand Olivier (Bulls), Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster), JP Pietersen (Sharks), Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls), Danie Rossouw (Bulls), John Smit (Sharks), Juan Smith (Cheetahs), Pierre Spies (Bulls), Gurtho Steenkamp (Bulls), Deon Stegmann (Bulls), Francois Steyn (Racing Metro), Morne Steyn (Bulls), Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), Flip van der Merwe (Bulls), Duane Vermeulen (Stormers).