TRI-NATIONS

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Boks named for trip Down Under

Tuesday 24th June 2008

Winging it: JP Pietersen is a surprise inclusion in the Bok touring squad

The Springbok selectors have named the national squad for the Tri-Nations away matches against New Zealand and Australia, including a surprise recall for Sharks winger JP Pietersen.

South Africa will be involved in back-to-back Test matches against New Zealand on July 5 in Wellington and July 12 in Dunedin. The team completes its overseas commitments for the tournament against the Wallabies in Perth on July 19.

The touring squad comprises of thirteen backs and fifteen forwards.

Six players will undertake their first Tri-Nations tour to Australasia with Odwa Ndungane, Andries Bekker, Ryan Kankowski, Tendai Mtawarira, Brian Mujati and Luke Watson all set to make the trip Down Under.

Kankowski was deemed fit to travel despite suffering concussion in a head-on collision with Italy lock Carlo del Fava during Saturday's match in Cape Town.

Players dropped from the squad that won the two-Test series against Wales and a one-off international to Italy are centre Gcobani Bobo, winger Tonderai Chavanga as well as hooker Schalk Brits and prop BJ Botha.

There's no room either for World Cup-winning number eight Danie Rossouw who misses out as a utility forward to Joe Van Niekerk, who is making a belated comeback to Test rugby.

Captain John Smit will complete his Top 14 commitments in France with Clermont over the weekend and he will join his team-mates early next week in Wellington.

Springbok squad for Tri-Nations away leg:

Forwards: Andries Bekker, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger, Bismarck du Plessis, Ryan Kankowski, Tendai Mtawarira, Brian Mujati, Victor Matfield, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, John Smit (c), Gurthro Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde, Joe van Niekerk, Luke Watson.

Backs: Bolla Conradie, Jean de Villiers, Peter Grant, Butch James, Conrad Jantjes, Adrian Jacobs, Enrico Januarie, Bryan Habana, Percy Montgomery, Odwa Ndungane, JP Pietersen, Ruan Pienaar, Francois Steyn.