Steyn, Rose included by Boks

Steyn: Impressive campaign

If we can maintain the form shown by the Blue Bulls, even 20 percent less, then we will be unbeatable.

Peter de Villiers
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South Africa have named a strong-looking 28-man squad for the three Test series against the British and Irish Lions this summer.

Earl Rose and Morne Steyn are the only two new faces in the squad, which will be led by veteran captain John Smit.

Lions full-back Rose was part of the Springbok squad that toured Europe at the end of last year, while Bulls fly-half Steyn earns his place after an outstanding 2009 Super 14 campaign in which he helped his franchise lift the title on Saturday.

"Morne Steyn earned his spot by performing week in, week out, he had an outstanding Super 14," coach Peter de Villiers told a news conference.

"If we can maintain the form shown by the Blue Bulls, even 20 percent less, then we will be unbeatable.

Excited

"I'm really excited with the opportunity that lies ahead for these players," De Villiers said. "It was very difficult and tough to leave some players out of this squad.

"I know of more than 12 players that easily could have been in this side. But I do feel that this is the best group we could have put together.

"I think we do have a few brilliant players in the squad that have played in that (full-back) position already. I'm not sure how or in what way you qualify as a recognised rugby player, but we do have a few options.

"If you look at a guy like JP Pietersen, he's played there for the Sharks. I think Morne himself is very good at full-back - Jaque Fourie, he's done it for years with his province and South Africa too there. Also, Francois Steyn can play there. So we've got a few guys and I think it's really a good squad."

The group also includes Sharks prop Deon Carstens and Bulls centre Wynand Olivier, both of whom last played for the national team in 2007.

A total of 10 Bulls players have been included although Zane Kirchner and Derick Kuun were overlooked, while the Sharks are also responsible for 10.

Privilege

De Villiers continued: "We have some great ball carriers and some great runners in our team. The challenge for us is to get the mixture right.

"There will always be disappointments, but for the guys that are there, for them it's the biggest challenge in their lives.

"We don't think and look at what we could have, but we would like to make the most of the opportunities that we do have."

Skipper Smit was also pleased with the players named in his team and emphasised that it was a big "privilege" to be selected.

He said: "It's a massive occasion for us. It's certainly one that will only come once in a lifetime.

"Some of the greatest players for all three countries, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia can spend their whole careers and not have an opportunity to play against the Lions by sheer bad timing. So all we have is a massive privilege.

"If you are one of the four home nations, you get the chance every four years to play for the British and Irish Lions. We only have that chance every 12 years and with that comes a massive sense of responsibility and certainly privilege.

"So we've all got to treat each day from now on with that amount of responsibility, because it's a very big series for us."

The series kicks off in Durban on June 20.

South Africa squad:
Backs: J de Villiers (Stormers), F du Preez (Bulls), J Fourie (Lions), B Habana (Bulls), A Jacobs (Sharks), E Januarie (Stormers), O Ndungane (Sharks), J Nokwe (Cheetahs), W Olivier (Bulls), R Pienaar (Sharks), JP Pietersen (Sharks), E Rose (Lions), F Steyn (Sharks), M Steyn (Bulls).

Forwards: J Smit (Sharks), V Matfield (Bulls), A Bekker (Stormers), B Botha (Bulls), S Burger (Stormers), D Carstens (Sharks), B du Plessis (Sharks), R Kankowski (Sharks), T Mtawarira (Sharks), C Ralepelle (Bulls), D Rossouw (Bulls), J Smith (Cheetahs), P Spies (Bulls), G Steenkamp (Bulls).