Springboks coach Peter de Villiers has recalled the heavy artillery for

South Africa’s Tri Nations return Test against the Wallabies on Saturday

week.

After controversially leaving 21 frontline players in

South Africa for the Boks’ opening two games of the tournament against

Australia in Sydney and New Zealand in Wellington, the bulk of those

were named on Friday in a new-look 24-man squad.

Among the stars

returning are winger Bryan Habana, centre Jean de Villiers, halfback

Fourie du Preez and locks Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield.

Only

nine of the players who travelled to Australasia and suffered

back-to-back heavy losses against the Wallabies and All Blacks have been

retained, including captain John Smit.

Six players remain on the

injured list and unavailable for selection, although three of them will

join the squad in Durban to continue their rehabilitation.

“We

still have a number of injury concerns but the majority of the players

who were in rehabilitation have recovered well and are now available for

selection,” De Villiers said.

The coach said Schalk Burger

(hand), Juan Smith (Achilles) and Willem Alberts (shoulder) would be

part of the squad but were not fit enough to be in contention for the

match against Australia.

A fourth loose forward, Heinrich

Brussow, will be assessed with a view to joining the squad, following

his planned appearance for the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup on

Saturday.

Lock forward Johann Muller remains on the injured list

and with Andries Bekker ruled out of the World Cup, Test newcomer

Gerhard Mostert was named in the squad.

The 26-year-old made his Test debut against New Zealand a fortnight ago.

“It’s

very satisfying to see that Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha have now

largely overcome their injuries but they still require management as we

have a shortage of fit locks at the moment,” said de Villiers.

“We

also have injury problems among the loose forwards, but I am hopeful

that all of the four who are not currently in the playing squad will be

ready for selection by the time of the World Cup.