Springbok coach Jake White named four new call-ups to his 28 men squad while giving a few senior players resting time for their end of year tour to the United Kingdom.
Free State Cheetahs fullback Bevan Fortuin, Blue Bulls flanker Hilton Lobberts, Lions centre Jaco Pretorius and Sharks flyhalf Francois Steyn are the four new members in WhiteÆs squad.
Fortuin's call-up has not been surprising as the thick haired former SWD Eagles player has been a vital cog in the transformation of the Currie Cup champions.
SA Under-21 flanker Lobbert's, too, has had a sterling season after coming into Bulls team on the back of injuries to Tim Dlulane and Johan Wasserman.
Pretorius, the SA Sevens captain, played a major role in the revitalization of the Lions who narrowly missed out on playing in the semifinal of the Currie Cup after forging a late eight match unbeaten run.
It is the selection of Steyn that will raise an eyebrow or two as the SA under-21 player has only played in a handful of Currie Cup matches for the Sharks this season.
"He played fullback, flyhalf and centre for the SA under-19 team as well. I phoned his school, Grey College and they gave me all the facts and figures of him as an athlete. He could probably have played anywhere. He is 105kg, and kicks for posts and he is one of those players we can look at going forward." White said.
Os du Rand, Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez, Bryan Habana, Percy Montgomery and Breyton Paulse have been rested.
White has also recalled veteran lock Johan Ackermann to the team after a five year absence from international rugby by the 36-year-old Sharks player.
White said that injuries were one of the factors for the changes, but he also wanted to see how some of his squad members react without the senior experienced members of the squad.
ôIt is an opportunity for guys like Albert van den Berg and Johan Muller to take charge of the lineouts. When you have Victor there it is all calm and Victor runs the lineouts. For us as a coaching staff it is nice to give some other guys the head role in the set-pieces. It is not just a case of resting players, a lot of players have niggling injuries and there is a bigger picture of playing players in the World Cup. "We saw the impact we had of losing top players this year,ö White said referring to the loss of Schalk Burger, Bakkies Botha, Ashwin Willemse and Gurthro Steenkamp.
"We have taken the decision to make sure that this doesn't happen again next year.'
The convenor of selectors, Peter Jooste, also announced that five players would join the Boks for their final game against the World XV in Leceister.
Winger Jonghikaya Nokwe, scrumhalf Bolla Conradie, centre De Wet Barry, lock Selborne Boome and flank Wikus van Heerden will make the trip as White looks to rest some of his players at the end of the tour.
Springbok squad: Johan Ackermann, BJ Botha, Gary Botha, Jacques Cronje, Deon Carstens, Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Bevan Fortuin, Butch James, Ricky Januarie, Hilton Lobberts, Johann Muller, Akona Ndungane, Wynand Olivier, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Jaco Pretorius, Andre Pretorius, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Danie Rossouw, Lawrence Sephaka, John Smit, Juan Smith, Pierre Spies, Albert van den Berg, CJ van der Linde, Pedrie Wannenburg, Francois Steyn.
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