Schalk Burger and JP Pietersen have been named in the South Africa squad for the Tri- Nations games in New Zealand and Australia next month.

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• Boks too strong for game Italy

Captain John Smit will join up with the squad in Wellington next week after his club Clermont's French Championship final against Toulouse on Saturday.

Hooker Smit played in the two test wins over Wales this month but missed last Saturday's 26-0 victory over Italy, flanker Burger (pictured) returned from injury to play as a replacement against the Italians and wing Pietersen missed all three matches.

Number eight Ryan Kankowski was deemed fit to travel despite suffering concussion in a head-on collision with Italy lock Carlo del Fava during Saturday's match in Cape Town.

Hooker Schalk Brits, who made his debut against Italy in the absence of Smit, was not retained.

Winger Odwa Ndungane and forwards Kankowski, Andries Bekker, Tendai Mtawarira, Brian Mujati and Luke Watson will undertake their first Tri-Nations tour.

The Springboks face the All Blacks in Wellington on July 5 and Dunedin a week later and the Wallabies in Perth on July 19.

Squad

Backs: Bolla Conradie, Jean de Villiers, Peter Grant, Butch James, Conrad Jantjes, Adrian Jacobs, Enrico Januarie, Bryan Habana, Percy Montgomery, Odwa Ndungane, JP Pietersen, Ruan Pienaar, Francois Steyn.

Forwards: Andries Bekker, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger, Bismarck du Plessis, Ryan Kankowski, Tendai Mtawarira, Brian Mujati, Victor Matfield, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, John Smit (capt), Gurthro Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde, Joe van Niekerk, Luke Watson.