Sharks prop Jannie du Plessis makes a welcome return to the Springbok team, after missing the recent series victory against the British and Irish Lions.

Du Plessis, who played the last of his seven Tests in the record 42-6 win over England at Twickenham last November, is the only 'newcomer' to the 23-man squad of 23 for South Africa's opening match of the Tri-Nations - against New Zealand in Bloemfontein next Saturday, July 25.

The group includes 22 of the players that took part in the recently completed 2-1 Test Series victory over the British & Irish Lions.

Fourteen of the 23 players selected were amongst the match 22 in the third Test against the Lions on July 4.

The group includes lock Bakkies Botha, whose two-week suspension ends this week.

The Bok squad assembles in Bloemfontein on Thursday.

Players in the broader Springbok squad, who played against the Lions but have not been selected for the first Tri-Nations Test, have been released to play for their provinces in the Currie Cup competition.

The convener of the selectors, Peter Jooste, said that it was important to maintain consistency in selection from the Lions Series.

"We have stuck with the core of the players who took part in the series against Lions Series, most of whom have been in the larger Springbok training squad over the past 12 months," Jooste said.

"We have also tried to ensure that the combinations that featured in the first two Tests [victories over the Lions] are kept intact to ensure consistency and familiarity," Jooste added.

Flank Schalk Burger will serve the last few of his eight-week suspension for the facial massage in B&I Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald and will miss the Boks' home leg in the Tri-Nations - when they play New Zealand (in Bloemfontein on July 25 and Durban, August 1) and Australia (Cape Town, August 8).

Add to that lock Johan Muller, who will miss the entire Tri-Nations with a fractured arm, and fullback Zane Kirchner, who is sidelined for four weeks after undergoing surgery for a cheek fracture.

Lock Andries Bekker, has recovered from the knee injury he suffered in the second Test against the Lions and is back in the mix.

With Du Plessis included in the front row mix there is no place for fellow Sharks prop Deon Carstens and Bulls front row forward Gurthrö Steenkamp.

The second row, following the injuries of Muller, features the usual suspects of Victor Matfield, Botha (back from his controversial two-week suspension), Danie Rossouw and Bekker.

Steven Sykes, who was on the bench in the third Test, is also back with the harks.

Burger's suspension leaves Pierre Spies, Ryan Kankowski, Juan Smith and Heinrich Brüssow as the remaining loose forwards. Rossouw is the utility, covering both lock and loose forward.

There's no surprises in the backline.

The halfback combination consist of Morné Steyn, who kicked the series-winning penalty in the second Test, Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez and Ricky Januarie - the latter perhaps a tad lucky, following his poor showing in the first Test.

Adi Jacobs, Jaque Fourie and Jean de Villiers will comprise the midfield - with Wynand Olivier released to the Bulls.

JP Pietersen and Bryan Habana are the only wings, with Odwa Ndungane and Jongi Nokwe released for Currie Cup duty. Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie and Frans Steyn have all played Test rugby on the wing.

Frans Steyn is the only fullback, but JP Pietersen, Fourie and Pienaar can all cover there.

Head coach Peter de Villiers added that whilst the Tri-Nations represented a new and different challenge it was important to build on what had been achieved against the Lions.

"The Lions Series was ideal preparation for the Tri-Nations," he said.

"The core squad that secured the Series win in the first two Tests has great potential as a unit and we believe that they have much more to offer. That is why we have made sure that we have remained consistent in our selection policy".

Commenting on the return of Jannie du Plessis, Jooste said: "Jannie has been a part of the Springbok squad since 2007 and still has much to offer. He was unfortunate to miss out on selection for the Lions series, but now gets an opportunity in the Tri-Nations."

South Africa:

Forwards: Andries Bekker (Western Province), Bakkies Botha (Blue Bulls), Heinrich Brüssow (Free State Cheetahs), Bismarck du Plessis (The Sharks), Jannie du Plessis (The Sharks), Ryan Kankowski (The Sharks), Victor Matfield (Blue Bulls, vice-captain), Tendai Mtawarira (The Sharks), Chiliboy Ralepelle (Blue Bulls), Danie Rossouw (Blue Bulls), John Smit (The Sharks, captain), Juan Smith (Free State Cheetahs), Pierre Spies (Blue Bulls).

Backs: Jean de Villiers (Western Province), Fourie du Preez (Blue Bulls), Jaque Fourie (Golden Lions), Bryan Habana (Blue Bulls), Adi Jacobs (The Sharks), Ricky Januarie (Western Province), Ruan Pienaar (The Sharks), JP Pietersen (The Sharks), Frans Steyn (The Sharks), Morné Steyn (Blue Bulls)

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