The biggest surprise among the six newcomers is the inclusion of little-known Boland wing Jonghikaya Nokwe. His exceptional pace – he can cover 40 metres in 4.8 seconds – won him the nod from White. The other first-timers are Bryan Habana, Gurthro Steenkamp, Michael Claassens, Tim Dlulane and Solly Tyibilika.
The Orange Free State due of prop Steenkamp and scrum half Claassens are under-21 protégés of White, while Pumas flanker Dlulane and Natal Sharks back rower Tyibilika have been included to ease the workload of star man Schalk Burger.
There are just five members of the Blue Bulls side that won the Currie Cup for the third year in a row last. Western Province have the biggest representation in the squad with eight, followed by the Cheetahs with seven, the Bulls with five, the Sharks with four, the Lions with four and the Pumas, Boland and the Eagles with one apiece.
Newport Gwent Dragons ace Percy Montgomery, now South Africa’s record points scorer, and Japanese-based former Leicester Tigers otuside half Jaco van der Westhuyzen are included in the squad.
The full squad for the UK and Ireland tour is:
Forwards
John Smit (Natal Sharks, capt)
Eddie Andrews (WP)
Bakkies Botha (BB)
Gerrie Britz (Cheetahs)
Schalk Burger (WP)
Jacques Cronje (BB)
Tim Dlulane (Pumas)
Os du Randt (Cheetahs)
Victor Matfield (BB)
Danie Rossouw (BB)
Solly Tyibilika (Sharks)
Hanyani Shimange (Cheetahs)
Juan Smith (Cheetahs)
Gurthro Steenkamp (Cheetahs)
CJ van der Linde (Cheetahs)
Joe van Niekerk (WP)
AJ Venter (Sharks)
Backs
De Wet Barry (WP)
Gcobani Bobo (Lions)
Michael Claassens (Cheetahs)
Jean de Villiers (WP)
Fourie du Preez (BB)
Gaffie du Toit (WP)
Jaque Fourie (Lions)
Bryan Habana (Lions)
Marius Joubert (WP)
Wayne Julies (Eagles)
Percy Montgomery (Newport)
Jonghikaya Nokwe (Boland)
Breyton Paulse (WP)
Brent Russell (Sharks)
Jaco van der Westhuyzen (NEC)
Ashwin Willemse (Lions)
*Werner Greeff (WP) and Danie Coetzee (Blue Bulls) have been placed on standby and have therefore not being included in the SA ‘A’ side
