South Africa coach Peter De Villiers will rely on the core of the squad that became world champions four years ago after naming his 30-man World Cup squad tonight.

Australia 39 South Africa 20

South Africa will mull over making changes to their backline to face Wales on Saturday after Francois Steyn joined up with the Springbok squad yesterday.

SOUTH AFRICA captain Victor Matfield will take comfort in familiarity if not experience when he leads the world champions out to take on Ireland at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow (5.30pm).

Victor Matfield admits the recent spate of injuries that has struck South Africa is far from ideal, but is adamant the squad has enough depth to overcome Ireland.

IRELAND coach Declan Kidney yesterday refused to be drawn into the IRFU ticketing debate but said his side has a bigger responsibility than ever to perform, no matter how many people turn up at the Aviva Stadium this Saturday.

Prop Gurthro Steenkamp has been named the South African Player of the Year for 2010.

SOUTH AFRICA coach Peter de Villiers has been forced to delay naming his team to face Ireland at the weekend until Thursday.

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL should be fit to play for Ireland against South Africa on Saturday after taking a limited part in training yesterday, according to team manager Paul McNaughton who described himself as “optimistic” regarding the captain.

South Africa were dealt a major blow today after experienced flanker Schalk Burger and rookie centre Juan de Jongh were both ruled out of the Grand Slam tour of Britain and Ireland that starts this week.

SOUTH AFRICA have been hit with further worries as they prepare to head to Dublin for this Saturday’s Test with Ireland.

Blue Bulls centre Wynand Olivier has been ruled out of South Africa’s year-end grand slam tour due to a groin injury.

South Africa head coach Peter de Villiers has named 11 uncapped players in his preliminary 39-man training squad for their Grand Slam tour of Britain and Ireland.

South Africa lock Victor Matfield has again reiterated his intentions to quit rugby after next year’s World Cup as he prepares for his 100th game in a Springbok jersey.

Centre Jaque Fourie has urged South Africa to stick together as a team against Australia if they are to end the recent slump that has taken in four consecutive losses.

SOUTH AFRICA coach Peter de Villiers says Frans Steyn’s kicking ability was the decisive factor in his selection for the Tri Nations encounter against Australia on Saturday.

South Africa coach Peter De Villiers has made two changes to his side ahead of Saturday’s game against Australia in Pretoria.

ASSISTANT coach Steve Hansen has predicted more running rugby when New Zealand face off against South Africa in the Tri Nations tomorrow.

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry concedes that Johannesburg’s altitude factor could be a major stumbling block for his side ahead of their Tri-Nations showdown with South Africa on Saturday.

GRAHAM HENRY expects his New Zealand side to face a much-changed South Africa one when the two countries meet in the Tri-Nations on Saturday.

Inexperienced pair Francois Hougaard and Flip van der Merwe will win their first starts for South Africa after being named in the starting line-up for the Tri Nations encounter against New Zealand in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Front row pair BJ Botha and Tendai Mtawarira are among five player that have been dropped from the South Africa squad to face New Zealand in their Tri Nations encounter in Johannesburg on Saturday.

SOUTH AFRICA coach Peter de Villiers has rung the changes ahead of Saturday’s Tri Nations clash with Australia at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has rung the changes ahead of Saturday’s Tri Nations clash with Australia at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

Wales 31 South Africa 34

Bulls 25 Stormers 17

Saracens 24 South Africa 23