Jannie du Plessis has bolstered the Springboks' Tri-Nations squad © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

News: McCaw survives rare club outing

News: Henry confident things will not go stale

Features: All Blacks face testing times

News: All Blacks sweat McAlister fitness

News: Currie Cup season gets underway

News: Deans banks on back-row firepower

News: Fly-half problems prompt All Black delay

News: O'Connor excited by return to Auckland

Players/Officials: Peter De Villiers | Bakkies Botha | Heinrich Brussow | Jannie du Plessis

Tournaments/Tours: Tri Nations

Teams: Australia | New Zealand | South Africa

South Africa have named the squad that will take on the All Blacks in their Tri-Nations opener at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on July 25.

The squad contains 22 players that faced the British & Irish Lions, with the only newcomer being Sharks prop Jannie du Plessis. Du Plessis joins his brother Bismarck in the squad for the first time this season, replacing Deon Carstens.

Heinrich Brussow is the only recognised openside in the absence of the banned Schalk Burger but there is a place for lock Bakkies Botha. Botha's two-week ban ends this week after his team-mates launched a controversial silent protest over his suspension for a clearout on Lions prop Adam Jones by wearing white armbands during the third Test at Ellis Park.

Both Zane Kirchner (fractured cheekbone) and Johann Muller (fractured arm) face surgery this week and are left out, as are Odwa Ndungane, Jongi Nokwe and Wynand Olivier.

"The Lions Series was ideal preparation for the Tri-Nations," said Springbok coach Peter de Villiers. "The core squad that secured the series win in the first two Tests has great potential as a unit and we believe that they have much more to offer. That is why we have made sure that we have remained consistent in our selection policy".

South Africa:

Forwards: Andries Bekker (Western Province), Bakkies Botha (Blue Bulls), Heinrich Brüssow (Free State Cheetahs), Bismarck du Plessis (The Sharks), Jannie du Plessis (The Sharks), Ryan Kankowski (The Sharks), Victor Matfield (Blue Bulls), Tendai Mtawarira (The Sharks), Chiliboy Ralepelle (Blue Bulls), Danie Rossouw (Blue Bulls), John Smit (The Sharks), Juan Smith (Free State Cheetahs), Pierre Spies (Blue Bulls)

Backs: Jean de Villiers (Western Province), Fourie du Preez (Blue Bulls), Jaque Fourie (Lions), Bryan Habana (Blue Bulls), Adi Jacobs (The Sharks), Ricky Januarie (Western Province), Ruan Pienaar (The Sharks), JP Pietersen (The Sharks), Frans Steyn (The Sharks), Morné Steyn (Blue Bulls)