JJ & Juandre in Bok squad

Nine uncapped players, including World Artists' JJ Engelbrecht and Juandre Kruger, have been named in Heyneke Meyer's Springbok squad for the three tests against England starting this Saturday.

Meyer and the national selectors, Peter Jooste and Ian McIntosh, were unanimous when it came to finalising the squad. They have also recalled 15 members of the World Cup 2011 squad, while nine World Cup winners from 2007 remain in the squad.

"We have put together a squad with a nice balance between a number of veterans and players with less experience as we start to build for the rest of the season," said Meyer.

"Working with these players during our four Planning Camps this season has been great and really made a very difficult selection process a bit easier. There were a few unlucky players that didn’t make it and they will get opportunities in future as long as they keep on knocking on the door.

"The nine uncapped players have all put up their hands during Vodacom Super Rugby this year and we know they have what it takes to succeed at the highest level."

Juandre Kruger has been in impressive form for the Blue Bulls this season while Meyer said that JJ Engelbrecht had been earmarked as a star of the future.

"We could have gone with an experienced guy or a guy for the future and JJ is a brilliant winger who can develop into a world-class outside centre. He has great attributes," said Meyer.

Springbok squad: Willem Alberts, Bjorn Basson, Marcell Coetzee, Keegan Daniel, Jean de Villiers, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, JJ Engelbrecht, Eben Etzebeth, Bryan Habana, Francois Hougaard, Elton Jantjies, Ryan Kankowski, Zane Kirchner, Juandré Kruger, Werner Kruger, Patrick Lambie, Tendai Mtawarira, Lwazi Mvovo, Wynand Olivier, Coenie Oosthuizen, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Jacques Potgieter, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Pierre Spies, Frans Steyn, Morné Steyn, Adriaan Strauss, Flip van der Merwe, Franco van der Merwe, Jano Vermaak.