British and Irish Lions

Head coach Peter de Villiers has kept faith with the same group of players who established a 2-0 series lead over the Lions last month as the world champions prepare to face the world's number one ranked team on July 25.

The only alteration to his squad sees prop Jannie du Plessis replace his Sharks team-mate Deon Carstens for the match in Bloemfontein. Du Plessis, who is the brother of first-choice hooker Bismarck, last featured for his country in the convincing win over England in November 2008.

Schalk Burger, who started the second international against the Lions, was unavailable for selection after being banned for eight weeks for making illegal contact with the eye area of Luke Fitzgerald, but Bakkies Botha returns to the squad having missed the final clash with the Lions at Ellis Park because of suspension.

A total of 14 of the 23 players also featured in the third Test against the Lions - a game in which Ian McGeechan's tourists completely outplayed the Springboks in Johannesburg.

"The Lions Series was ideal preparation for the Vodacom Tri-Nations," said de Villiers.

"The core squad that secured the series win in the first two Tests has great potential as a unitt and we believe that they have much more to offer. That is why we have made sure that we have remained consistent in our selection policy.

"Jannie has been a part of the Springbok squad since 2007 and still has much to offer. He was unfortunate to miss out on selection for the Lions series but now gets an opportunity in the Vodacom Tri-Nations".

Springbok squad

Forwards

Andries Bekker (Vodacom Western Province)
Bakkies Botha (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
Heinrich Brüssow (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs)
Bismarck du Plessis (The Sharks)
Jannie du Plessis (The Sharks)
Ryan Kankowski (The Sharks)
Victor Matfield (Vodacom Blue Bulls) - Vice-captain
Tendai Mtawarira (The Sharks)
Chiliboy Ralepelle (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
Danie Rossouw (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
John Smit (The Sharks) - Captain
Juan Smith (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs)
Pierre Spies (Vodacom Blue Bulls)

Backs

Jean de Villiers (Vodacom Western Province)
Fourie du Preez (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
Jaque Fourie (Xerox Lions)
Bryan Habana (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
Adi Jacobs (The Sharks)
Ricky Januarie (Vodacom Western Province)
Ruan Pienaar (The Sharks)
JP Pietersen (The Sharks)
Frans Steyn (The Sharks)
Morné Steyn (Vodacom Blue Bulls)

Some very lucky winners got to host some of the British & Irish Lions in their homes in Ireland this week. 'Host The Pride' gave the opportunity for fans to host some of the biggest names in world rugby.

It looks like the British & Irish Lions will get a tough work out in Newcastle on Tuesday, 11 June ahead of their clash with the Waratahs after Combined Country coach Cameron Blades selected 18 Super Rugby players in his initial squad.

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.