Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has announced a squad of 27 players, which includes five World Cup winners and six uncapped players, for the away leg of the Tri-Nations.

John Smit, the most capped international captain in Test rugby, will win his 103rd cap against Australia in Sydney on July 23. A week later the Springboks play New Zealand in Wellington.

The squad features youth and experience, as well as recognising Super Rugby form while the uncapped players will get a valuable oppportunity to stake a claim for inclusion in the World Cup squad later this year.

Flyhalf Elton Jantjies, scrumhalf Charl McLeod, loose forward Ashley Johnson and props Coenie Oosthuizen, Werner Kruger and Dean Greyling all stand the chance of winning their first Test cap. All but Greyling have appeared in non-cap matches for the Springboks.

"We've rewarded players who have performed outstandingly in Super Rugby," said De Villiers, "although the injury situation has also been critical. But there is a backbone of experience and it means that all our leading players will receive Test exposure this year."

The squad was selected following medical assessments, which identified that a number of players were carrying injuries and required immediate rehabilitation to avoid the risk of break down before the end of the international year.

The tour squad will assemble in Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon and leave for Australia on July 15.

Springbok Tri-Nations squad:
 
Backs: Gio Aplon, Bjorn Basson, Juan de Jongh, Adrian Jacobs, Elton Jantjies, Patrick Lambie, Charl McLeod, Lwazi Mvovo, Odwa Ndungane, Wynand Olivier, Ruan Pienaar, Morne Steyn.
Forwards: Heinrich Brüssow, Jean Deysel, Dean Greyling, Alistair Hargreaves, Ryan Kankowski, Werner Kruger, Ashley Johnson, Johann Muller, Coenie Oosthuizen, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Danie Rossouw, John Smit (captain), Deon Stegmann, Adriaan Strauss, Flip van der Merwe.