World champions South Africa named a virtual 'B' squad Friday for Tri-Nations Tests in Australia and New Zealand during July.

Captain and hooker John Smit and fly-half Morne Steyn are the only inclusions among 27 players chosen by coach Peter de Villiers likely to be considered for the opening World Cup match against Wales in Wellington during September.

Medical tests in Cape Town this week led to 21 of the preliminary World Cup squad being sidelined temporarily with cynical observers noting that most of those staying behind were probable World Cup first choices.

"We have rewarded players who performed outstandingly in the Super 15 championship," De Villiers told a Cape Town media conference after a team announcement brought forward 24 hours.

"The injury situation has also been critical, but there is a backbone of experience and it means all our leading players will receive Test exposure this season."

The Springboks also sent a second-string squad to Australia and New Zealand four years ago and went on to defeat England in Paris and win the World Cup a record-equalling second time.

Flank Heinrich Brussow returns to the squad after an 18-month absence from the Test scene due to various injuries - a timely boost given star loose forwards Schalk Burger and Juan Smith are among the casualties.

De Villiers chose six uncapped players, fly-half Elton Jantjies, scrum-half Charl McLeod, props Deon Greyling, Coenie Oosthuizen and Werner Kruger and livewire backrow forward Ashley Johnson.

Only two of the 29 fit World Cup squad players will not tour - fullback Zane Kirchner and number eight Pierre Spies, another candidate for the first choice line-up.

The squad has an unbalanced appearance with three fly-halves but only three centres, although young pivot Patrick Lambie can also be deployed at centre and fullback.

Smit is one of three hookers but there are just three props - two looseheads and one tighthead - and none has played a Test which is far from ideal given the strength of the Wallabies and All Blacks.

Tri-Nations title holders New Zealand are hosts and favourites to win the World Cup, which kicks off on September 9 and concludes on October 23 with the final at Eden Park in Auckland.

South Africa face Australia in Sydney on July 23 and New Zealand in Wellington one week later and are likely to choose a much stronger squad for the return Tri-Nations Tests in Durban and Port Elizabeth during August.

Squad

Backs

Gio Aplon, Bjorn Basson, Adrian Jacbos, Elton Jantjies, Jean de Jongh, Patrick Lambie, Charl McLeod, Lwazi Mvovo, Odwa Ndungane, Wynand Olivier, Ruan Pienaar, Morne Steyn

Forwards

Heinrich Brussow, Jean Deysel, Deon Greyling, Alistair Hargreaves, Ashley Johnson, Ryan Kankowski, Werner Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Johann Muller, Coenie Oosthuizen, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Danie Rossouw, John Smit (capt), Deon Stegmann, Adriaan Strauss

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