Peter de Villiers's Springbok World Cup squad stands at 49 and counting, but anyone with a passing interest in the Boks probably knows to within five players who the final 30 will be.

The following are 15 players who did the business in the Super 15 but probably won't go to the World Cup.

15 Riaan Viljoen

With the exception of the incredible Gio Aplon, Viljoen is the only South African fullback, Frans Steyn included, who can surprise the opposition on the counter-attack. He is probably wishing he used last year more constructively, having made the Bok end-of-year touring squad in 2009.

14 Johann Sadie

Having started only twice for the Stormers, the gifted Sadie is not unlucky in the ordinary sense. Were it not for Pat Lambie, Sadie would have been the 2011 version of Frans Steyn circa 2007.

13 Adrian Jacobs

Adi has done a phenomenal job of pushing the often blunt Sharks thrust in the final quarter throughout the season. But Juan de Jongh is younger, covers both centres and is better conditioned.

12 Wynand Olivier

It is no coincidence that the Bulls improved once Olivier found his range midway through the Super rugby season - the Bulls' game is so heavily invested in those direct runs of his. But he is more limited than those who are going to the World Cup.

11 Bjorn Basson

He has equalled Bryan Habana's try-scoring record for Super rugby in his first season and plays a game tailor-made for the Boks' kick and chase. But he drifts in and out of games, whereas Lwazi Mvovo, his direct rival for a squad place, gets hungrier for the ball the tighter the game.

10 Peter Grant

With the Bok selectors probably poised to overlook their bias against him, Grant must be cursing the return of another Maritzburg Boys High old boy, Butch James.

In less than a handful of games, Butchie claimed the reserve flyhalf spot while Grant was injured.

And we all know Lambie is a non-negotiable .

9 Sarel Pretorius

Fourie du Preez, Francois Hougaard, Ruan Pienaar . would you really take Sarel Pretorius to a World Cup ahead of any one of them?

8 Duane Vermeulen

It's an irony that, when the selectors finally gave lip-service to picking him, injury ruled him out.

7 Francois Louw

There's still a chance that, if Heinrich Brussow isn't fit, Francois might go as Schalk Burger's understudy. Otherwise .

6 Keegan Daniel

One end-of-year tourist who kept doing what got him there in the first place - punching above his weight. But being able to play all three back-row positions equally well, and being a loosie in South Africa, will count against him.

5 Flip van der Merwe

Bakkies Botha's injuries and suspensions gave Flip his opportunity last year, now that "Bakke" is healthy and has not kept the citing officers as busy, he loses out.

4 Reinhard Elstadt

I'm still not 100% sure who the hell Reinhardt Elstadt is, but I am familiar with his work. But, in a world in which the reserve Bok locks are Danie Rossouw and Dries Bekker ...

3 Werner Kruger

Kruger has shown the most improvement of the tightheads behind Jannie du Plessis. But he will only go if Brian Mujati no longer has a chance of going to New Zealand.

2 Adriaan Strauss

Has never let the Boks down. But the Bok hookers for New Zealand 2011 were decided in 2008.

1 Coenie Oosthuizen

The world will have to wait to discover Shrek's freakish strength and goose-step. The World Cup was probably a year too early for a superstar in the making.