New Springboks coach Peter de Villiers has selected the majority of last year's World Cup winning squad to his first training group to prepare for a two-Test series against Wales.

De Villiers, who took over from successful World Cup coach Jake White at the beginning of this year, and is the first black man to take charge of South Africa's national team, has also recalled overseas-based Springboks, captain John Smit, lock Victor Matfield, flyhalf Butch James and fullback Percy Montgomery.

There are also a number of uncapped players in the group, who'll meet up in the western Cape town of Somerset West this week to prepare for the series against Wales, the Six Nations Grand Slam winners.

Among the newcomers is Western Province flyhalf Isma-eel Dollie, a 23-year-old who has played for his country at all junior levels.

A long-time favourite of De Villiers, his selection has as much to do with his precocious talent as it does the lack of depth at flyhalf in the country.

"I want to emphasise this is a training squad, not a Test squad," said De Villiers.

"I have selected certain players to work with them in a squad environment alongside the country's finest players, and others because I felt I had not seen enough of them during the Super 14 competition.

De Villiers added: "I want to build on what we've achieved over the last four years up to the World Cup so I think it's a nice blend of youth and experience."

Some of the other newcomers are Northern Bulls scrumhalf Heini Adams, Golden Lions lock forward Gerhard Mostert, Western Stormers lock Andries Bekker, Stormers hooker Schalk Brit, Stormers prop Brian Mujati, Cheetahs loose forward Duane Vermeulen, Bulls fullback Zane Kirchner, Lions fullbacks Louis Ludik and Earl Rose, who can also play at flyhalf.

There are also recalls after lengthy absences of players such as Central Cheetahs centre Meyer Bosman, wingers Jonghi Nokwe (Cheetahs) and Tonderai Chavangha (Stormers), flankers Kabamba Floors (Cheetahs) and Hilton Lobberts (Bulls), hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle (Bulls) and loose forward Joe van Niekerk (Lions).

Centre Gcobani Bobo (Stormers) and fullback Conrad Jantjes (Stormers) are also in contention for Test rugby again after a long time out of the Boks team. Dynamic No 8 Pierre Spies from the Bulls is also back in the mix after missing last year's World Cup because of a lung illness.

Injured flanker Schalk Burger (Stormers) has also been called up, but he will have to prove he is over his knee injury before continuing preparations with the squad in the coming weeks.

There are no Coastal Sharks players in the squad as they'll be involved in a Super 14 semifinal this weekend. Once their campaign is over, De Villiers will announce the players from that franchise to join the training camp.

The Boks face Wales in Bloemfontein on June 7 and a week later in the second Test in Pretoria.

Springboks training squad:

Backs

Heini Adams, Gcobani Bobo, Meyer Bosman, Tonderai Chavhanga, Jean de Villiers, Isma-eel Dollie, Fourie du Preez, Jaque Fourie, Peter Grant, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Enrico Januarie, Conrad Jantjes, Zane Kirchner, Louis Ludik, Percy Montgomery, Akona Ndungane, Jongi Nokwe, Wynand Olivier, Earl Rose.

Forwards

Andries Bekker, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Brits, Schalk Burger, Wian du Preez, Kabamba Floors, Hilton Lobberts, Victor Matfield, Bryan Mujati, Gerhard Mostert, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Danie Rossouw, John Smit (c), Juan Smith, Pierre Spies, Gurthrö Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde, Heinke van der Merwe, Wikus van Heerden, Joe van Niekerk, Duane Vermeulen, Luke Watson

AFP

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