Coach Peter de Villiers said on Wednesday that injury-hit South Africa would be at full strength when they start their Rugby World Cup title defence on September 11 against Wales.
Loose forwards Juan Smith and Duane Vermeulen and lock Andries Bekker have been ruled out of the 20-team, quadrennial rugby union showcase in New Zealand.
And fears that full-back Francois Steyn and full-back/centre/fly-half Patrick Lambie could also miss the tournament were dispelled only on the eve of the squad announcement this week.
Flank Schalk Burger will go to the September 9-October 23 tournament having missed the entire Tri-Nations championship due to a dislocated right thumb.
“If there was a Test on Saturday, they would all be available to play other than Patrick Lambie (shoulder) and Francois Steyn (hamstring),” assured De Villiers.
“We will have a full squad to choose from for our first match of the tournament on September 11 against Wales.”
Island teams Fiji and Samoa and rank outsiders Namibia are the other Pool D contenders with the top two finishers advancing to the quarter-finals.
South Africa are widely expected to top the table and confront Ireland for a place among the last four in a competition New Zealand are hosting a second time.
Several Springboks sat out training Wednesday as the defending champions began their countdown to the World Cup on a clear, late-winter day at a high school in an elite Johannesburg suburb.
Those watching from the sideline were recovering from bumps and bruises sustained in an 18-5 Tri-Nations Test victory over New Zealand in Port Elizabeth last Saturday.
South Africa have also named 12 stand-by players should any of the 30-strong squad be injured.
The list includes young Sharks wing Lwazi Mvovo, widely considered the unluckiest player among those who failed to make the squad.
Stand-by Springboks
Forwards: Jean Deysel (Sharks), Dean Greyling (Blue Bulls), Alistair Hargreaves (Sharks), Ashley Johnson (Free State Cheetahs), Werner Kruger (Bulls), Gerhard Mostert (Stade Francais/FRA), Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs)Backs: Elton Jantjies (Golden Lions), Zane Kirchner (Bulls), Charl McLeod (Sharks), Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), Wynand Olivier (Bulls)
Ben S
Roar Guru
Why on earth would anybody not be talking about the Springboks on a thread that refers specifically to the Springboks?!?! This type of mentality ruins this site.
ivan
Guest
You are right and I stand corrected. My gut feel is that my team will peak soon. Whether they can string together.a backline move is another question, but the basics of their game seems to be coming right. My comment however arrogant was directed at bloggers that always have many negative things to say about the boks, but offer little insight into their own teams. So please tell us, who will win tomorrow and why? As a neutral it will be interesting to watch, and without a doubt entertaining
Derm
Roar Guru
Oh come on, Ivan, you are deliberately avoiding the point. The purpose of this site is for discussion about all rugby and all its teams - not to restrict people to merely commenting on the team of their country. It would all be a bit limited and dull, don't you think? Besides making a claim that you know everything there is to know about your team, what they were planning, etc and are the only one knowledgeable enough to do so by dint of your birthright seems a tad arrogant. Unless of course you're a member of the Boks coaching team, in which case I bow to your superior knowledge.
ivan
Guest
If predicting winners for two matches is considered analysis, then It is fair
Derm
Roar Guru
"NZ to beat the Aussies by 15 this weekend – and to head into RWC as the only team who can win it, And then to lose it unexpectedly – as always" "Now that the 3N is over for us – we prepare to wallop Wales – and we will." Ivan, would it be fair to ask why dont you rather school us on your South Africa, and leave the in depth analysis of the All Blacks, Wales and Australia to people who are closer to the team, or the country?
Ben S
Roar Guru
That's literally one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read. Good grief...
Ivan
Guest
Because i live in the country, and i know my countrymen. I know my team. I know exactly what they were concentrating on in this 3N. What they were trying to achieve. Now that the 3N is over for us - we prepare to wallop Wales - and we will. Why dont you rather school us on your England, and leave the in depth analysis of the Springboks to people who are closer to the team, or the country.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Exactly, this is 2011 and the bad form of 2010 has continued. What evidence do you have to justify this statement: 'and it seems these boks will find it at just the right time.' The Springbok defence is as bad as it was in 2010, the scrummaging is just as erratic, and the backs are still unable to do offer any real threat.
Ivan
Guest
they sucked in 2010. But as you have pointed out in other posts - this is 2011. Form comes and goes, and it seems these boks will find it at just the right time. NZ to beat the Aussies by 15 this weekend - and to head into RWC as the only team who can win it, And then to lose it unexpectedly - as always
Ben S
Roar Guru
What about the 2010 3N?
Charging Rhino
Guest
Boks are going to be formidable at the tournament. Trust me. Don't read too much into any of their results this past Tri- Nations. They know what they're doing. They know how to beat everyone and anyone. They were coming together a bit against the All Blacks last weekend and got the win easily against an under strength team, (they need to get their attacking precision of their running game back to full strength again) and going forward into the next 2 months they'll only improve.
Ben S
Roar Guru
'The Springboks remind me of the Germans in football ,who have the most amazing World Cup record despite often being thought of as past it.' Actually the Germans are now known for their youth. Not sure when they have been labelled 'past it' in recent years. The Germans also tend to win in the interim period too.
Green Lantern
Roar Pro
Well SH. Some of the Springbok and South Africans, has German ancestry. With Afrikaans being a Germanic-language, some of us do speak German and Dutch... But I can see your comparisons with The Sprinboks and German soccer team.
stuff happens
Guest
It's a very strong squad which would be the envy of most countries.Pleased to see Louw included; he was a standout in the early stages of the S15 until injury. The squad seems to have been selected on the basis that rain is a likely factor in NZ especially since their pool games are in WLG. This why I suspect Ashley Johnson & Kankowski missed out. Rassie Erasmus influence? The squad has enormous experience,will be well led on field by Matfield & Smit ( yes I know ! ).Their pack will be formidable by October ( I'm assuming they qualify). The Springboks remind me of the Germans in football ,who have the most amazing World Cup record despite often being thought of as past it.
Handles O Love
Guest
I reckon Ashley Johnson is unlucky. He has looked promising in a couple of runs recently.
Seiran
Roar Guru
The boks need extra runners to chase all those up and unders they'll be kicking.
Ivan
Guest
One or two surprise selections - Ruan Pienaar i dont rate that highly, Ndungane - Mvovo is better but i think teh boks should have picked an extra loose forward considering they want to play everything in the pack - unless they planning to surprise us.