JOHANNESBURG: South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has included 19 uncapped players for two 2015 Rugby World Cup training camps during May and June.
Western Stormers full-back Cheslin Kolbe and tighthead prop Vincent Koch and Golden Lions scrum-half Faf de Klerk will attend Springbok training for the first time.
The other 16 have prior involvement with the two-time world champions, either as members of touring squads or at training or planning camps.
Johannesburg hosts the May 3-6 first camp and Cape Town the May 31-June 3 second get-together.
Diminutive Kolbe is an elusive runner, but many pundits doubted whether Meyer would be interested in the 21-year-old given his preference for physically big players.
Team-mate Koch joined the Stormers from Currie Cup outfit Mpumalanga Pumas for the Super 15 season and has been consistently impressive as a scrummager
Tighthead prop has been a long-running problem position for the Springboks with no stand-out substitute for injury-prone veteran Jannie du Plessis.
De Klerk, like Kolbe, is a small player with a big heart, and scored the victory-clinching try Saturday for the Lions against the Central Cheetahs.
"The door to Springbok selection is never closed and by inviting these players we are rewarding great Super Rugby form," said Meyer.
"We will announce the Rugby World Cup squad only at the end of August and there are still a lot of undecided places."
Skipper and centre Jean de Villiers, fly-half Patrick Lambie and lock Pieter-Steph du Toit were included despite being sidelined by injuries.
Veteran inside centre De Villiers damaged his knee during a Test loss to Wales in Cardiff last November and will take no part in the Super 15 season.
An interesting inclusion is flank Heinrich Brussow, who lost his Springbok starting spot when Meyer replaced Peter de Villiers soon after a quarter-finals exit from the 2011 World Cup.
But there is no place for 2007 World Cup-winning utility back Francois Steyn, who walked out of the squad last year over an unspecified contract issue.
Foreign-based players like Springbok first-choice loose forward Francois Louw from English club Bath were not considered for the camps.
South Africa have been drawn with Japan, Samoa, Scotland and the United States in the first round of the World Cup, which kicks off on September 18 in England.
Training squads
Johannesburg (May 3-6)
Forwards (26): Arno Botha, Ruan Botha, Heinrich Brussow, Schalk Burger, Nizaam Carr, Robbie Coetzee, Lood de Jager, Jacques du Plessis, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Dean Greyling, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Lappies Labuschagne, Frans Malherbe, Victor Matfield, Teboho Mohoje, Trevor Nyakane, Scarra Ntubeni, Coenie Oosthuizen, Pierre Spies, Adriaan Strauss, Marcel van der Merwe, Duane Vermeulen, Warren Whiteley
Backs (18): Bjorn Basson, Demetri Catrakilis, Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh, Faf de Klerk, Jean de Villiers, Cornal Hendricks, Francois Hougaard, Elton Jantjies, Jesse Kriel, Patrick Lambie, Willie le Roux, Lionel Mapoe, Rudy Paige, Handré Pollard, Jan Serfontein, Kobus van Wyk, Francois Venter
Note: Coastal Sharks unavailable due to Australasia tour
Cape Town (May 31-June 3)
Forwards (27): Willem Alberts, Ruan Botha, Heinrich Brussow, Schalk Burger, Nizaam Carr, Marcell Coetzee, Robbie Coetzee, Lood de Jager, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean Deysel, Eben Etzebeth, Lizo Gqoboka, Ryan Kankowski, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Teboho Mohoje, Tendai Mtawarira, Scarra Ntubeni, Coenie Oosthuizen, Michael Rhodes, Duane Vermeulen, Warren Whiteley
Backs (17): Demetri Catrakilis, Damian de Allende, Juan de Jongh, Faf de Klerk, Jean de Villiers, Nic Groom, Cornal Hendricks, Elton Jantjies, Cheslin Kolbe, Patrick Lambie, Willie le Roux, Lionel Mapoe, Lwazi Mvovo, JP Pietersen, Cobus Reinach, Kobus van Wyk, Francois Venter
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