South Africa's premliminary squad for the defence of their Rugby World Cup title has a familiar feel after 12 of the starting line-up that won the 2007 World Cup were named in the initial group.
The missing Springbok trio are fullback Percy Montgomery and loosehead prop Os du Randt, who have retired after long, distinguished careers, and tighthead prop CJ van der Linde, who was overlooked by coach Peter de Villiers.
Backs JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Francois Steyn, Bryan Habana, Butch James, and Fourie du Preez and forwards John Smit, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Schalk Burger, Danie Rossouw and Juan Smith are the final survivors.
Six uncapped players were also named in the 49-man squad with untried Bulls props Dean Greyling and Werner Kruger, Lions first five Elton Jantjies, Cheetahs loose forward Ashley Johnson and prop Coenie Oosthuizen, and Stormers number eight Duane Vermeulen.
Coach Peter de Villiers selected 21 former World Cup winners and the team will be led by 2007 World Cup-winning captain John Smit and vice-captain Victor Matfield.
The Bulls wing Bjorn Basson, a shock omission from the second of two recent training camps as he is joint leading try scorer with nine this season in the Super 15 championship, was among 21 backs called up.
There has been no official explanation for his absence from a Durban camp amid media speculation that it could have been a disciplinary reaction to him oversleeping and missing a photo shoot during a Cape Town camp.
Steyn from Paris club Racing Metro is one of four 'exiles' included with Ruan Pienaar, who can fill either half-back role, tighthead prop BJ Botha and lock Johann Muller from Irish province Ulster completing that list.
