'This team is mentally tough' - Meyer on Springboks selected for Rugby World Cup

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer announced his 31-man world cup squad, in Durban, on Friday night - sticking, as expected, to the tried-and-tested.

Jean de Villiers will captain the team, and Victor Matfield will be his deputy.

"I'm very, very happy," Meyer said, after the reveal.

"I know we can do it and we'll do all it takes to bring home the world cup.

"We want to stay humble - every single game is is a knockout game. I just hope the whole nation will rally behind us."

Not everyone will be happy with the squad - including Elton Jantjies, Marcell Coetzee, Warren Whiteley, Heinrich Brussow, Lionel Mapoe, Jaque Fourie, Vincent Knock,  Steven Kitshoff, Cornal Hendrix,  Frans Steyn, Cobus Reinach, Oupa Mohoje, and Jan Serfontein.

Meyer said it was "tough" to trim his squad to 31, but believed the players who didn't make the cut would be able to make the step-up should they be required. 

"This team is mentally tough," he added.

SQUAD:

Backs:

Willie le Roux; Zane Kirchner; Bryan Habana; JP Pietersen; Lwazi Mvovo; Jean de Villiers (capt); Damian de Allende; Jesse Kriel; Handré Pollard; Pat Lambie; Morné Steyn; Fourie du Preez; Ruan Pienaar; Rudy Paige.

Forwards:

Duane Vermeulen; Francois Louw; Willem Alberts; Schalk Burger; Siya Kolisi; Victor Matfield; Eben Etzebeth; Pieter-Steph du Toit; Lood de Jager; Bismarck du Plessis; Adriaan Strauss; Schalk Britz; Tendai Mtawarira; Jannie du Plessis; Trevor Nyaka